The Police (Conduct and Vetting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Published: Mon 22nd Jun 26

These Regulations amend existing police conduct, vetting, and performance rules in England and Wales to establish stricter suspension and vetting requirements for police officers and candidates.

They mandate suspension for officers charged with specific serious offences or domestic abuse, define "listed offences" that trigger automatic administrative actions, and introduce a requirement for police candidates to hold vetting clearance granted within six months of their appointment.

The regulations apply to chief officers of police, the College of Policing, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct, directing how these authorities must delegate functions, conduct reviews, and notify officers of disciplinary or vetting decisions.

Arguments For

The legislation states that it addresses defects in previous Statutory Instruments (S.I. 2025/502 and S.I. 2025/558) to ensure legal clarity.
Proponents argue the measures strengthen public confidence by requiring mandatory suspension for officers charged with serious "listed" offences or domestic abuse.
The document asserts that the public interest requires suspension in cases of serious criminal allegations unless exceptional circumstances are demonstrated.
The regulations set out to create a standardized vetting process for new candidates and transferring officers, ensuring suitability is assessed close to the date of appointment.
The order states that providing detailed reasons for vetting decisions and allowing for appeals ensures procedural fairness for officers and candidates.

Arguments Against

Legal scholars may question the impact of "automatic" suspension on the principle of the presumption of innocence for officers not yet convicted.
Civil liberties organisations have previously argued that broad domestic abuse assessments by police authorities, outside of court findings, could involve subjective judgment.
Affected agencies may raise concerns regarding the administrative burden of conducting criminal history checks for every vetting severity assessment.
Implementation difficulties could arise from the requirement to re-vet candidates if appointment dates are postponed by more than six months.

Part 1 Introductory

Citation, commencement and extent

-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Police (Conduct and Vetting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 13th July 2026.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

This section establishes the official title of the regulations and sets the date they take legal effect as 13 July 2026.

It specifies that the legal jurisdiction of the document is limited to England and Wales.

Part 2 Amendment of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020

The Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 8.

Amendment of regulation 2 (interpretation and delegation)

-(1) Regulation 2 is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)-

(a) after the definition of 'document' insert-

''domestic abuse assessment' has the meaning given in regulation 11E(4);';

(b) after the definition of 'relevant lawyer' insert-

''relevant offence' has the meaning given in regulation 11C(5);';

''suspend' means suspend from the office of constable and, in the case of a member of a police force, from membership of the force; and a reference to a police officer who is, or (as the case may be) is not, already suspended is a reference to a police officer who is, or is not, already suspended under these Regulations or the Vetting Regulations;

'suspension condition' has the meaning given in regulation 11(1)(a);'.

(3) For paragraph (4) substitute-

'(4) Where the appropriate authority delegates its functions under regulation 11, 11A or 49, the following decisions must, subject to paragraph (4ZA), be authorised by a senior officer-

(a) a decision under regulation 11 or 11A as to whether the suspension condition is met;
(b) a decision under regulation 49 as to whether to certify a case as one where the special conditions are satisfied.

(4ZA) Where the appropriate authority delegates its functions under regulation 11 or 11A, and the case is one to which regulation 11C applies, a decision under regulation 11 or 11A that the suspension condition is not met must be authorised by-

(a) where the police force concerned is the metropolitan police force, an officer of at least the rank of assistant commissioner;
(b) in any other case, a chief officer of police.'.

This part updates the definitions used in police conduct proceedings, adding specific terms for domestic abuse and relevant offences.

It narrows the delegation of power by requiring that decisions not to suspend an officer in serious cases must be authorized by high-ranking officials, such as an Assistant Commissioner or a Chief Officer.

This ensures that senior leadership is directly responsible for oversight in high-priority conduct cases.

Substitution of regulation 11 (suspension)

For regulation 11 substitute-

' Duty to suspend where suspension condition met

-(1) The appropriate authority must suspend the officer concerned under this regulation if-

(a) the appropriate authority is satisfied that the condition in paragraph (4) (the 'suspension condition') is met, and
(b) the officer is not already suspended.

(2) An officer who is suspended under this regulation remains a police officer for the purposes of these Regulations and the Vetting Regulations.

(3) Suspension under this regulation must be with pay.

(4) The suspension condition is that-

(a) the effective investigation of the case may be prejudiced unless the officer concerned is suspended, or
(b) the public interest otherwise requires that the officer should be suspended.

(5) When deciding if the suspension condition is met, the appropriate authority must consider whether temporary redeployment to alternative duties or an alternative location is an appropriate alternative to suspension in all the circumstances of the case.

(6) Suspension under this regulation is effective from the date and time of notification...'

This section mandates the suspension of an officer if an investigation might be prejudiced or if it is in the public interest.

It requires authorities to consider alternative duties or relocation before opting for full suspension.

Suspensions under this specific regulation must be conducted with pay, and the officer retains their legal status as a member of the police force during the period.

Regulations 11 and 11A supplementary: officer arrested or questioned under caution in relation to a relevant offence

11C. -(1) This regulation applies where the officer concerned is-

(a) arrested in relation to a relevant offence, or
(b) in a case to which section 29 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 applies, questioned under caution in relation to a relevant offence.
(2) Regulation 11 is supplemented by the following provisions-
(a) unless the officer concerned is already suspended, and subject to paragraph (3), the appropriate authority must decide whether the suspension condition is met within the period of three working days...
(b) the public interest requires suspension unless there are exceptional circumstances;
(c) if the appropriate authority decides that the suspension condition is not met, it must proceed under regulation 11D...'

This regulation creates a presumption in favor of suspension when an officer is arrested or questioned for a 'relevant offence' (serious crimes listed in the schedule).

Suspension is required in the public interest unless 'exceptional circumstances' are identified.

It also sets a strict timeline of three working days (or eight in some cases) for an authority to reach a suspension decision.

Automatic or mandatory suspension: officer charged with a relevant offence

11F. -(1) This regulation applies where the officer concerned is charged with a relevant offence.

(2) Where, immediately before being charged, the officer concerned was already suspended... the suspension continues under this regulation with effect from the date and time of the charge.

(4) Where the officer concerned was not already suspended immediately before being charged-

(a) if the officer was given a written notice... before the day on which the officer is charged-
(i) the officer is automatically suspended under this regulation with effect from the date and time that they are notified of the charge...
(b) in any other case, the appropriate authority must... suspend the officer with effect from the date and time of notification...

(6) Suspension under this regulation must continue until the officer concerned ceases to be charged with a relevant offence as a result of criminal proceedings being discontinued or the officer being found not guilty.

This section introduces automatic suspension for any officer charged with a 'relevant offence.' This suspension is not discretionary and remains in effect until the criminal proceedings are resolved in the officer's favor.

If the officer was already suspended under different rules, that suspension is converted to an automatic charge-based suspension.

Mandatory suspension: officer charged with an offence involving domestic abuse

11G. -(1) This regulation applies where-

(a) the officer concerned is charged with an offence other than a relevant offence, and
(b) the appropriate authority makes a domestic abuse assessment in relation to the alleged conduct of the officer (whether before or after the officer is charged).

(2) Where the officer concerned was already suspended under regulation 11 or the Vetting Regulations immediately before being charged- [suspension continues under this regulation].

(4) Where the officer concerned was not already suspended immediately before being charged, the appropriate authority must suspend the officer...'

This regulation mandates suspension for officers charged with any offence if the police authority assesses the conduct as involving domestic abuse.

It defines the 'domestic abuse assessment' based on the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Officers have a specific right to make representations against the domestic abuse assessment within seven working days of their suspension.

Part 4 Amendment of the Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025

Appointment to a police force: requirement to hold vetting clearance etc.

4B. -(1) A police candidate must not be appointed to a police force unless they hold vetting clearance which was granted by the vetting authority of the police force to which they are seeking appointment within the period of 6 months ending with the date of appointment.

(3) A vetting authority may grant a police candidate vetting clearance only if-

(a) the candidate has applied... (b) the vetting authority has carried out a vetting application assessment... (c) the vetting authority is satisfied that the candidate is suitable to hold vetting clearance.

This part prohibits the appointment of any new police recruit who does not possess a valid vetting clearance granted within the six months prior to their start date.

It mandates a 'vetting application assessment' which includes criminal history, financial history, and conflict of interest checks.

If a start date is delayed beyond six months, the candidate must apply for vetting clearance again.

Suitability to hold vetting clearance: criminal offences

5D. -(1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply for the purposes of any provision... in connection with the suitability of a police officer to hold vetting clearance.

(2) A police officer is not suitable to hold vetting clearance if-

(a) the officer has been convicted of a criminal offence for which the court imposed a custodial sentence,
(b) the officer is, or has been, subject to the notification requirements of Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003,
(c) the officer has been convicted of, or given a caution for, a listed offence,
(d) the officer has been convicted of an attempt or conspiracy to commit a listed offence, or
(e) the officer has been convicted of, or given a caution for, an offence which the vetting authority has determined involved behaviour... amounting to domestic abuse...

unless there are exceptional circumstances which justify the officer being regarded as suitable...'

This section outlines the criteria that disqualify a person from holding police vetting clearance.

Automatic bars include custodial sentences, inclusion on the sex offenders register, or convictions for 'listed' or domestic abuse offences.

These bars can only be overridden if the authority identifies 'exceptional' or 'particular' circumstances.

Schedule 1

Listed offences

An offence under section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (possession of indecent photograph of child).
An offence under section 63CA of the Family Law Act 1996 (forced marriage: offence of breaching order).
An offence under... the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (stalking).
An offence under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.
An offence under... the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
An offence... of forced marriage.
An offence under... the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (disclosing private sexual photos, grooming, pornographic images of rape).
An offence under Part 5 of the Serious Crime Act 2015.
An offence under... the Stalking Protection Act 2019.
An offence under... the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

This schedule lists the specific criminal offences that trigger mandatory suspension and vetting disqualification under the regulations.

The list focuses on sexual offences, child protection, stalking, forced marriage, and domestic abuse.

These categories are used uniformly across conduct, vetting, and appointment regulations.

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