Whether you are planning on working for the UK government or are being screened by or are otherwise concerned with it, the importance of a proper security clearance should be evident.

Government officials and those who work with them are often tasked with handling the most sensitive information, on which the lives and futures of others might depend.

To be tasked with such sensitive information requires a great deal of trust, and so it makes sense that security clearances are geared towards ensuring only the most trustworthy individuals receive access to them.

But what does it actually mean to have “security clearance?”

What are the different levels of security clearance in the UK?

How might that affect recruitment for jobs such as those in IT?

Let’s take a closer look at that and other issues relating to security clearance in the UK.

Security clearance (otherwise referred to as National Security Vetting, or NSV) is straightforward – namely, something that enables the holder to have access to certain information.

One of the first, most basic, and most essential elements of that security clearance process, as described below, is a background check. Before the UK government entrusts all of that information to someone, it only stands to reason that they will want to make sure that the person they are dealing with is trustworthy, which means looking into their background and past dealings.

Background checks are given to everyone whose roles in the government would involve working with sensitive government information or assets as well as personnel. It’s this latter part that can be especially important to keep in mind when looking to recruit personnel for a job.

Once someone has attained a basic level of security clearance, they can serve as “Crown servants.”

They can also then work in military, intelligence, security, and similar agencies such as the police.

In addition to these roles, a security clearance can also be essential for those who are tasked with handling goods and services or otherwise working as contractors or employees of contractors doing so on behalf of the government.

Unsurprisingly, security clearance is also required for those who work to protect assets or intelligence from cyber threats, terrorism, and similar attacks on the United Kingdom and its government and people.

While different levels of security clearance will involve similar processes, most every form of security clearance will require some kind of security questionnaire. These require that you provide personal details of different sorts in the context of a background check. In-person interviews may also sometimes be necessary.

There are five main levels of security clearance in the UK: 

• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)
• Security Check (SC)
• Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC)
• Developed Vetting (DV)
• Enhanced Developed Vetting (eDV)

Below, we’ll discuss them one at a time in greater detail. You’ll learn what they entail and what you’ll need for the security check.

As the name would imply, the BPSS is the standard method of pre employment screening for anyone who is going to work with any type of government assets. This can include everyone from civil servants and temporary staffers in governmental departments to members of the armed forces and government contracts.

This is not a “formalised” security clearance on the order of other clearances, but it is nevertheless a rigorous screening process.

It is important to note the “baseline” element of that name as well. Many jobs that require security clearances will seek to go above and beyond this “baseline standard” and include other clearance requirements. They may also ask for references and make additional inquiries.

A BPSS is typically required for any job that involves “Secret” or “Top Secret” locations, technologies, or information.

It is also required to access the Public Services Network (PSN), which can contain sensitive information of a secretive nature.

Involved in this kind of check are:

• Confirmation of your identity
• A review of your employment history over at least the past three years
• A check of your national and immigration status, including your right to work
• A review of any criminal record you may have
• Reasonable accounts of any “significant periods” spent abroad (typically defined as six or more months over the past three years)

As the name would imply, these security checks are undertaken as part of counterterrorism efforts.

It is the policy of the Cabinet Office that CTC clearances are to be formally reviewed on a regular basis after 10 years, or after five years in the case of non-List X contractors.

However, it is also up to the discretion of those taking on the risks associated with these security clearances to review a CTC clearance at any time before those 5 or 10 years.

Some departments may voluntarily choose to issue shorter clearances than those 5 to 10 year ones for certain categories of workers (for example, reservists in the armed forces and subcontractors hired on for specific tasks).

These clearances are especially important, in accordance with the name, with any job that may be at particular risk when responding to or is otherwise tasked with preventing terrorist attacks. This can include individuals who handle material that might be accessed or otherwise be of value to terrorist organisations and individuals. A major example are those who work in civil, industrial, or military centres.

Involved in this kind of check are:

• The successful completion of the BTSS
• Completion of one or more specialised security questionnaires
• A review of your MI5 and/or Security Service records
• A review of any past criminal activity
• A review of your departmental or company records (for example, personal files and staff reports)
• Additional interviews as deemed necessary

This and eSC (enhanced security checks) are the more specific types of reviews mentioned above.

The exact nature of these checks are dependent upon what kind of work you’re doing.

Both SC and eSC are typically characterised by working with “Secret” or “Top Secret” locations and materials.

This, like SC, is reserved for specific types of security clearances. Of special note are those who work with regular access to Category I nuclear materials or access to digital resources, who tend to require DV as well as other forms of security clearances.

It is current Cabinet Office policy that these clearances are to be formally reviewed after seven years, or three years in the case of non-List X contractors. As with SC clearances, a DV clearance may also be reviewed at any time prior to those mandatory formalised reviews.

In addition to the checks required for an SC and a BTSS, a DV clearance often requires:

• A full review of your personal finances
• A more detailed interview with an Investigating Officer with the possible follow-ups
• An in-depth analysis of all of your assets, income, and any potential liabilities

The eDV includes all of the above and then extra checks on top of that. It is reserved for a small number of posts where the utmost secrecy regarding the most secret materials and actions are required.

It requires sponsors and is typically only given to a very small number of people, and only in accordance with the UKSV and Cabinet Office.

These clearances involve all of the above clearance checks and then additional interviews or more in-depth analysis on certain points as needed.

There are several potential reasons why you might be refused for different security clearances. On the one hand, rejection is not necessarily a bad thing for the process, as it can prove that the intended checks are working to help ensure that sensitive materials and secrets are protected. On the other hand, it can be personally frustrating when you are on the receiving end of a refusal.

One common reason for refusal is applicants not having been a resident of the UK for long enough to qualify. Typically, applicants need to have been a resident for four of the past five years for an SC clearance or nine of the past 10 for DV clearance.

Financial irregularities that raise red flags, such as suspicious financial activity or high amounts of debt, are another potential reason. In addition, employee records gathered during background checks that indicate a potential for security risks or untrustworthiness on the applicant’s part may be considered grounds for refusal.

It is important to account for any gaps in one’s employment record, as a failure to do so may be deemed suspicious.

While criminal records are not necessarily reasons for being barred, careful consideration of the threat level posed by any applicant is a main element of the screening process, and a criminal past may be seen as a red flag.

Finally, any trace in the background checks of personal, familial, or other associated ties to terrorist or espionage organisations, radicalised groups, or other groups deemed dangerous will likely constitute grounds for refusal.

By understanding the basic elements of the background checks and processes involved in security clearances, recruitment teams can increase the chances of successfully helping candidates pass.

Written by Lucid Support