Panic about Police vetting procedure!!

[Mad Dave]

Hey Guys
Just reading through the vetting criteria and noticed the following:

10. Convictions which will lead to rejection unless there are exceptionally compelling circumstances, include:
§ Two or more convictions for regulatory offences such as failure to renew vehicle excise licence within the
last five years

In this instance, what counts as a 'conviction'? Would receiving a letter from DVLA informing you that you missed the date to renew, and therefore have to pay a £40 fine be classed as a conviction, assuming you paid the fine!??!?!

Thanks guys,

Dave

[Deva Link]

You can only be convicted of something by a court of law. You got a fixed penalty, not a fine.

[Mad Dave]

Ah ok, thanks. So what's the difference? A fixed penalty doesn't count as a conviction? I hope to god you're right mate

[davidra]

Mad Dave said:

Hey Guys
§ Two or more convictions for regulatory offences such as failure to renew vehicle excise licence within the
last five years

you see, this is really a test to see if you're any good at keeping up with the paperwork ;-)

dave

[Mad Dave]

davidra said:

Mad Dave said:

Hey Guys
§ Two or more convictions for regulatory offences such as failure to renew vehicle excise licence within the
last five years

you see, this is really a test to see if you're any good at keeping up with the paperwork ;-)

dave

LOL yeah! I'm on tenterhooks here, trying to find confirmation of what Deva Link said about only being convicted in a court of law!

To add - if you were to be caught speeding and received a fixed penalty, THAT would be classed as a conviction, yet you wouldn't have been to court for that?! What's the difference?

Edited by Mad Dave on Sunday 21st October 21:22

[Boosted LS1]

Mad Dave said:

davidra said:

Mad Dave said:

Hey Guys
§ Two or more convictions for regulatory offences such as failure to renew vehicle excise licence within the
last five years

you see, this is really a test to see if you're any good at keeping up with the paperwork ;-)

dave

LOL yeah! I'm on tenterhooks here, trying to find confirmation of what Deva Link said about only being convicted in a court of law!

To add - if you were to be caught speeding and received a fixed penalty, THAT would be classed as a conviction, yet you wouldn't have been to court for that?! What's the difference?

Edited by Mad Dave on Sunday 21st October 21:22

Is it a conviction? I don't think it is as you would have chosen to pay a penalty instead of being convicted at court.

[Greendubber]

Mad Dave said:

Hey Guys
Just reading through the vetting criteria and noticed the following:

10. Convictions which will lead to rejection unless there are exceptionally compelling circumstances, include:
§ Two or more convictions for regulatory offences such as failure to renew vehicle excise licence within the
last five years

In this instance, what counts as a 'conviction'? Would receiving a letter from DVLA informing you that you missed the date to renew, and therefore have to pay a £40 fine be classed as a conviction, assuming you paid the fine!??!?!

Thanks guys,

Dave

Dont worry about it mate, wont be an issue.

[Mad Dave]

Greendubber said:

Mad Dave said:

Hey Guys
Just reading through the vetting criteria and noticed the following:

10. Convictions which will lead to rejection unless there are exceptionally compelling circumstances, include:
§ Two or more convictions for regulatory offences such as failure to renew vehicle excise licence within the
last five years

In this instance, what counts as a 'conviction'? Would receiving a letter from DVLA informing you that you missed the date to renew, and therefore have to pay a £40 fine be classed as a conviction, assuming you paid the fine!??!?!

Thanks guys,

Dave

Dont worry about it mate, wont be an issue.

Thanks mate. I've been very unlucky over the years in this respect and had to pay, I think, 3 of these bloody fines, largely due to either the reminder not arriving or selling vehicles and the useless shysters at the DVLA losing the paperwork - and then fining me. When challenged, they've actually said to me "we are a big organisation, we are expected to lose things". But somehow if I lose something, i'm liable for a £40 fine. Bastards.

Thanks for your help, there's a higher chance i'll sleep tonight now!

[Deva Link]

Mad Dave said:

To add - if you were to be caught speeding and received a fixed penalty, THAT would be classed as a conviction, yet you wouldn't have been to court for that?! What's the difference?

No it wouldn't - only a court can convict you. If you accept a fixed penalty, that's exactly what it is; a penalty.

[Mad Dave]

Ah, ok, thanks chaps That's saved me another call to the Recruitment Dept!!

Just spotted this other bit:

§ More than three endorseable traffic convictions (including fixed penalties) within the last five years (for offences on different dates)

Which clears up the speeding question (not that i've gone any of those)

I'm ok as the Tax Penalty isn't endorsable so doesn't count on the above point.

Thanks loads chaps, really appreciate it. Got my medical next month and have put in loads of work to get through the assessment etc, would be mightily peeved to be rejected on something as silly as forgetting to renew my RFL!

[Greendubber]

Which Force are you applying for?

[Mad Dave]

Wiltshire

[Greendubber]

Mad Dave said:

Wiltshire

Good luck with it all!.

I dont regret joining up, its a good job even though you get a fair bit of stick from certain people.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks mate

As I say, got my physical next month, just had my eyesight tested (all fine) so got to get my Doc to fill out the 8 page medical history form and then do the fitness day. Hopefully all will be well.

[Greendubber]

Mad Dave said:

Thanks mate

As I say, got my physical next month, just had my eyesight tested (all fine) so got to get my Doc to fill out the 8 page medical history form and then do the fitness day. Hopefully all will be well.

The doctors charge for those most of the time, take some dosh with you!.

[Deva Link]

Mad Dave said:

I'm ok as the Tax Penalty isn't endorsable so doesn't count on the above point.

They may not automatically exclude you, but you do realise that you still need to declare them, don't you? Looking at the vetting proceedure for another force, you have to declare everything.

[Mad Dave]

Deva Link said:

Mad Dave said:

I'm ok as the Tax Penalty isn't endorsable so doesn't count on the above point.

They may not automatically exclude you, but you do realise that you still need to declare them, don't you? Looking at the vetting proceedure for another force, you have to declare everything.

Really?! Shit. Ok, i'd better find out exactly how many times it's happened and get on and write a letter to Recruitment. On the App form though, it just says

Police Application Form said:

Have you ever been convicted for any offence or had formal cautions by police for any offence or any bindovers imposed by any court?

(Include traffic convictions and appearances before a court martial and any cautions as a juvenile.)

and when I filled it out I genuinely didn't consider these as fitting the criteria (in fact i'd forgotten all about them!). I'll call DVLA and find out details as i've been unlucky/careless enough to receive a few fines for this.

Thanks for your help

Dave

PS Greendubber - yeah, i'd heard it can be anything up to £100!!!

[streaky]

I'd ask Wiltshire for clarification as to what constitutes 'a conviction' before sending them anything in writing. And make a note of who gave you the information, when and exactly what. If they ask why you are asking, say, "Well, does it include a penalty charge for late re-registration of a motor vehicle?" - Streaky

[Deva Link]

Police Application Form said:

Have you ever been convicted for any offence or had formal cautions by police for any offence or any bindovers imposed by any court?

(Include traffic convictions and appearances before a court martial and any cautions as a juvenile.)

The only vetting details I could find last nght were from Notts, and they seem to suggest that you should mention everything:
http://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/uploads/libra...


If the Wilts form only mentions the stuff that you quoted then you might be OK. Trouble with calling is that they'll probably cover their backsides and tell you to list them. However it'll look bad if you don't mention them and then they come out in a search. Whatever, they may think it looks bad that you couldn't keep your own affairs in order, 3 times.

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 22 October 10:17

[Mad Dave]

Deva Link said:

Police Application Form said:

Have you ever been convicted for any offence or had formal cautions by police for any offence or any bindovers imposed by any court?

(Include traffic convictions and appearances before a court martial and any cautions as a juvenile.)

The only vetting details I could find last nght were from Notts, and they seem to suggest that you should mention everything:
http://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/uploads/libra...


If the Wilts form only mentions the stuff that you quoted then you might be OK. Trouble with calling is that they'll probably cover their backsides and tell you to list them. However it'll look bad if you don't mention them and then they come out in a search. Whatever, they may think it looks bad that you couldn't keep your own affairs in order, 3 times.

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 22 October 10:17

Exactly, that's my worry. And to be fair, it is pretty appalling. I used to be very disorganised, though this is something which has been severely tackled of late (i've had to get my affairs in order as i'm taking out a mortgage) and is no longer an issue. In fact, I taxed my car yesterday - early! LOL