Counting the real cost of security

As a former police officer involved with intelligence matters, and now in my capacity as a consultant specialising in pre-employment vetting, I can honestly say that I've seen the problem from a number of different angles.

In our desire to develop a society where individual privacy is protected, a plethora of legislation regulates what personal information can be recorded, what might be retained and how and when it can be exchanged. Issues regarding Human Rights and tribunal decisions concerning discrimination in employment serve to muddy the waters still further.

The police service is subject to these restrictions, as is the Criminal Records Bureau. While able to supply some information they have garnered, they're at pains to point out that this should only be used as one part of any recruitment process. Certainly, those involved in recruiting have to steer a path through the legislation so as to avoid litigation and – with little or no investigative experience – decide who can work where.

Against this background, regardless of human error I venture to suggest that some inappropriate employee selection is going to be inevitable.

If we're seeking to protect the vulnerable members of our society then some attitudinal and legislative changes will be required. There must be a realisation and acceptance that those individuals likely to abuse the positions of trust they seek to occupy are unlikely to admit to their intentions, and even less likely to be totally honest about their past.

The only way these individuals will be exposed is by thorough and specialist vetting. To some degree at least, any invasion of privacy is a necessary consequence of that.