A GUIDE TO SECURITY CLEARANCE SECTORS WITHIN THE UK

UK Security Clearance

For jobs which involve dealing with Classified or Protectively Marked Information, prospective candidates are often required to

be vetted before being granted access to such material.

There are various types of Security Clearance within the UK which indicate that an individual has been vetted to a standard defined in

the Manual of Protective Security.

Protectively Marked Information

Vetting

The purpose of vetting applicants in this way is to ensure than an individual had not been previously involved in activities such as espionage, terrorism or sabotage.

Nor should their past behaviour or personal circumstances do not indicate that they should not be granted access to Protectively Marked Information.

Candidates who pass Security Clearance checks may have achieved the following National Security Vetting Levels:

DV – Developed VettingSC – Security Check BPSS – Baseline Personnel Security Standard CTC – Counter-Terrorism Check

The DV Security Clearance process includes:The DV Security Clearance process includes:

Developed Vetting allows an employee to be granted routine and unrestricted access to material marked 'Top Secret' or below.

a check against the National Collection of Criminal Records

a check against Security Service records

personal, professional and credit reference checks, as well as a review of personal finances

a candidate interview

DV Clearance is subject to review at least every eighteen months.

DV – Developed Vetting

The Security Check Clearance process includes:The Security Check Clearance process includes:

Security Check clearance allows an employee to be granted routine and uncontrolled access to material marked 'Secret' and below with occasional, supervised, access to Top Secret material.

a check against the National Collection of Criminal Records

a check against Security Service records

credit reference checks and a review of personal finances

A candidate interview may also be required to attend an interview, and SC Clearance is usually subject to review every 10 years.

SC – Security Check

The BPSS Clearance process includes:The BPSS Clearance process includes:

Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance allows an employee to be granted routine and unrestricted access to material marked 'Confidential' and below with occasional, supervised, access to Secret material.

a check against the National Collection of Criminal Records

confirmation of an individual’s identity, signature, address, employment and education.

BPSS – Baseline Personnel Security Standard(formerly the BC – Basic Check)

The Counter-Terrorism Check Clearance process includes:The Counter-Terrorism Check Clearance process includes:

CTC Clearance allows an employee to be granted access to locations where Protectively Marked Information is held securely. CTC clearance does not grant access to the Protectively Marked Information itself.

Typically, this type of Security Clearance would be required for staff working in reception, catering or maintenance roles within a public sector facility.

a check against Security Service records

Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance

A candidate interview may also be required to attend an interview with a Department for Transport security officer. Counter-Terrorism Check Clearance is valid for 3 years.

CTC – Counter-Terrorism Check

For more information on Security Clearance sectors within the UK and for the latest Security Cleared Jobs please visit

SecurityClearedJobs.com.