Reply to: SC renewal only 3 years

[ratewhore]

Shame really. Bloody nice bloke. Paul Gadd his name was - or something like that...

[pmeswani]

Happened to an ex-colleague of mine. DVA found something in his history that he genuinely had forgotten about but it meant no DV and loss of SC.

Ah. So it's not an automatic loss of the SC. It's a case of due negligence.

[ratewhore]

Really? Why's that?

Happened to an ex-colleague of mine. DVA found something in his history that he genuinely had forgotten about but it meant no DV and loss of SC.

[TykeMerc]

Really? Why's that?

If they turn up negative security indicators in a DV check those negatives are as applicable in an SC environment.

I believe that SC clears you to routinely deal with UK Secret material and DV clears you to routinely deal with UK Top Secret material.

[pmeswani]

And chances are if you fail your DV there is a good possibility you could lose your SC too!!!

Really? Why's that?

[ratewhore]

And chances are if you fail your DV there is a good possibility you could lose your SC too!!!

[Incognito]

Ah so I only had a 'silver' DV.

All 3 of my referee's were interviewed and my personal interrogation lasted 5 hours.

I won't be going for a DV role again, too many hoops to jump through just to get in the door plus there's nothing worse than working alongside civil servants who think they're something special.

And to make it even more complicated, when swamped under with vetting cases, the top echelons will contract out to somewhere else to vet some of their outstanding needs.

[gingerjedi]

Nope, that's not true. It was what the DVA was created for, but the agencies are still a law unto themselves. What you also have is the DV snobbery as well where a 5 or 6 DV is deemed Gold, Cheltenham is Silver and all others Bronze. It's to do with the vetting methods. 9 times out of 10 the DVA will only interview 1 of your friends. I have heard of people who have had the Gold vetting procedure who have had their nominated persons interviewed then the officer has come back with a list of 6 other friends mentioned in the interviews that they want to chat to (And you better have a good excuse to say no).

It's common for people who have Mod sponsered DV's deemed not complete and have had roles withdrawn at the agencies.

Also the DVA do not do a hair sample drug test.

Ah so I only had a 'silver' DV.

All 3 of my referee's were interviewed and my personal interrogation lasted 5 hours.

I won't be going for a DV role again, too many hoops to jump through just to get in the door plus there's nothing worse than working alongside civil servants who think they're something special.

[Incognito]

Having worked for MoD, GCHQ & private companies that hold clearance I'm pretty sure that all the security controllers I have spoken have a link to a database at the DVA, true other companies and departments can hold it but I think it's the vetting agency that does the vetting.

Nope, that's not true. It was what the DVA was created for, but the agencies are still a law unto themselves. What you also have is the DV snobbery as well where a 5 or 6 DV is deemed Gold, Cheltenham is Silver and all others Bronze. It's to do with the vetting methods. 9 times out of 10 the DVA will only interview 1 of your friends. I have heard of people who have had the Gold vetting procedure who have had their nominated persons interviewed then the officer has come back with a list of 6 other friends mentioned in the interviews that they want to chat to (And you better have a good excuse to say no).

It's common for people who have Mod sponsered DV's deemed not complete and have had roles withdrawn at the agencies.

Also the DVA do not do a hair sample drug test.

[gingerjedi]

The DVA are the "Defense Vetting Agency" they only clear people or hold clearance for military positions. ie work on Military projects. (MOD etc). Cabinet office, MI5 and another 2 vetting agencies im not aware of hold clearance for other government sections. ie GCHQ, Police, Local government, FCO etc.

Any company can hold any level of govenment clearance as long as they are authorised to by the government and meet their criteria. Ie. List X for DV etc.

Having worked for MoD, GCHQ & private companies that hold clearance I'm pretty sure that all the security controllers I have spoken have a link to a database at the DVA, true other companies and departments can hold it but I think it's the vetting agency that does the vetting.

[Mailman_1]

That’s what I thought however I've just had mine renewed last week and it expires in 2011 so its only 3 years, the security controller said it was now standard for contractors.



Either the client or the agency can hold it providing they're list X, you're ltd can’t hold any clearance. I believe DV is held only by the DVA.

The DVA are the "Defense Vetting Agency" they only clear people or hold clearance for military positions. ie work on Military projects. (MOD etc). Cabinet office, MI5 and another 2 vetting agencies im not aware of hold clearance for other government sections. ie GCHQ, Police, Local government, FCO etc.

Any company can hold any level of govenment clearance as long as they are authorised to by the government and meet their criteria. Ie. List X for DV etc.

[gingerjedi]

By the way, CTC is lower than SC...

And it's always been 5 years for contractors, 10 for permies. And it expires 1 year after you leave the role that needs it regardless.

That’s what I thought however I've just had mine renewed last week and it expires in 2011 so its only 3 years, the security controller said it was now standard for contractors.

Daft question (nothing new there then)... is it possible to transfer the clearance to (or at least hold a copy against) ones own ltd company or does it have to be held by the client who has the direct contract with the SC based client?

Either the client or the agency can hold it providing they're list X, you're ltd can’t hold any clearance. I believe DV is held only by the DVA.

[gadgetman]

I had BC Enhanced, whatever that means.

They've changed the labels but the old standard is still in place:

BC - You are who you say you are
CTC - You really are who you say you are
SC - We know who you really are
DV - We've actually checked that we know who you really are .

[pmeswani]

I feel special then. My clearance is for 10 years...

Daft question (nothing new there then)... is it possible to transfer the clearance to (or at least hold a copy against) ones own ltd company or does it have to be held by the client who has the direct contract with the SC based client?

[ratewhore]

By the way, CTC is lower than SC...

And it's always been 5 years for contractors, 10 for permies. And it expires 1 year after you leave the role that needs it regardless.

I feel special then. My clearance is for 10 years...