questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been waiting (a) more than three months, (b) more than six months and (c) more than 12 months for security and vetting clearance required for employment in the prison service.
answerText: The number of individuals currently awaiting completion of security and vetting checks  within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) was 14,694 as of 18 May 2026.This figure reflects the full onboarding pipeline, covering candidates from the ...
heading: HM Prison Service: Vetting