Derbyshire gains ‘CONFIDENCE’

Derbyshire Constabulary has become one of the first forces to use live vetting via the new ‘CONFIDENCE’ Personnel Vetting Management Software system.

This software, developed by MJR(UK) Ltd., enables forces to vet their own staff and other persons who may have legitimate access to secure buildings. Derbyshire Constabulary has worked in collaboration with the company to fine-tune the product to meet requirements and create a generic, transferable platform for other users.

During phase one of the Derbyshire project the software will manage and record all of the force’s vetting transactions and a photographic database of all non-police staff undergoing vetting will be compiled by the vetting unit. This information will be integrated into the ‘CONFIDENCE’ system. During phase two of the project, scheduled later this summer, the information will be made securely available 24 hours a day at police offices across the force.

This ability to full identify and authenticate the vetting status of non-police staff will massively improve the perimeter security and access control.

Mike Shaw, the force security manager, who has been managing this project, said: “The biggest frustration I have experienced since the force moved to a Central Vetting Unit has been the lack of a reliable recording and tracking system for vetting enquiries. The spreadsheets we were using only provided a very basic level of information and in practice was a very inefficient tool for what is a highly complex and intensive process. By adopting ‘CONFIDENCE’ we will become more efficient in the way we process vetting enquiries, will be able to keep a better track as they progress through the system and it will enable us to enforce the strict aftercare policies of the ACPO Vetting Policy.”