Police Certificates
The Police Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network issues police certificates and criminal record extracts from its record of offences and outcomes. Certificates are issued to staff of member organisations and citizens of the Velocity Interoperability Network without charge. They are not issued to visitors, who should obtain the equivalent document from the authority responsible for their place of residence.
Applications accepted from Monday 14 September 2026
Types of certificate. Four documents are issued. The processing time for each runs from the date on which the applicant's identity is confirmed at a station counter.
| Document | Purpose | Content | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard police certificate | Employment with a member organisation; tenancy; membership of a regulated profession | Convictions and cautions recorded against the applicant by the Department | 10 working days |
| Enhanced police certificate | Work with children or vulnerable persons; positions of trust designated by a member organisation | As standard, together with any relevant information held by the Department | 20 working days |
| Criminal record extract | The applicant's own information, for immigration, citizenship or other applications | Every entry held against the applicant, including those closed without action | 10 working days |
| Certificate of no record | Confirmation for an authority outside the Network that no record is held | A statement that no entry is held against the applicant | 10 working days |
A certificate records only matters held in the Department's record, which begins with the incident records transferred by member organisations from 10 August 2026. It does not record matters dealt with by authorities beyond the Network. A member organisation that requires a certificate for employment should tell the applicant which type is needed; the Department does not decide the purpose on the organisation's behalf.
Applying. The steps below apply to every type of certificate.
Step 1: Write to the Department
Send your full name, date of birth, staff or citizen identification number, the type of certificate required and the purpose for which it is needed to the Department's email address. Applications are accepted from 14 September 2026 and answered in order of receipt.
Step 2: Receive your application reference
The Department acknowledges the application by email within two working days with an application reference and a list of the identification you must present.
Step 3: Attend a station to confirm your identity
Attend the counter of any station that offers certificate identity checks within ten working days of the acknowledgement, bringing your identification and the application reference. The counter records the check against your application.
Step 4: Wait for the record to be searched
The Department searches its record of offences and outcomes, and for an enhanced certificate considers whether any other information it holds is relevant to the purpose stated. The processing time runs from the date of the identity check.
Step 5: Receive the certificate
The certificate is sent by email to the address from which the application was made, and a copy is held in the Department's records for twelve months. A certificate may be verified by the person to whom it is shown by writing to the Department with the certificate number.
Disputing an entry. An applicant who believes that an entry on a certificate is wrong may write to the Department, quoting the certificate number and stating the grounds. The Department reviews the entry against its records and the records of the courts of the Network, corrects any error and issues a replacement certificate without charge. Where the entry is confirmed, the applicant is told the source of the record.
Requests by organisations. A member organisation may not apply for a certificate on behalf of a member of staff, and the Department does not disclose the content of a certificate to anyone but the applicant. An organisation to which a certificate is shown may verify it by writing to the Department with the certificate number; the Department confirms whether a certificate bearing that number was issued and on what date.
Applications and enquiries may be sent to contact@police.gov.vin. For the stations at which identity checks are made and their counter hours, see Police Stations; for answers to common questions, see the frequently asked questions.