About us
We provide a final means of challenging a decision to refuse or withdraw national security vetting.
Who we are
The Security Vetting Appeals Panel (SVAP) is a non-departmental public body with advisory functions sponsored by the Cabinet Office. It was established in July 1997 by the Prime Minister to provide a final means of challenging a decision to refuse or withdraw national security vetting.
Appointments to the SVAP are made on merit and in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
What we do
The SVAP is available to hear appeals from individuals in government departments, the armed forces, the police and other organisations, or from those employed by contractors of those departments and organisations, who have been through the relevant internal appeal process and had their appeal rejected. The SVAP is not available to candidates for recruitment or employment (who have no formal rights of appeal against adverse vetting decisions if their applications are rejected on security grounds) or to staff and contractors of the Security and Intelligence Agencies (who have their own separate arrangements). Its remit covers only issues related to national security vetting. It has no mandate to hear appeals against adverse decisions taken under other forms of vetting (e.g. police vetting) or in relation to performance or discipline.
The SVAP is not a court of law. It will review the basis on which decisions have been taken to refuse or withdraw security clearance and the rigour and fairness of the processes involved. In order to do that, the SVAP will need to see and examine all the relevant information from both the appellant and the organisation concerned. The SVAP can recommend that the decision to refuse or withdraw security clearance should stand, or that security clearance should be granted or restored. It may also recommend that the clearance process be re-run in the light of new information or new considerations. The SVAP’s recommendations are advisory and it remains the responsibility of the relevant department or organisation to decide how to respond. The SVAP has no involvement in any questions relating to compensation.