Letter to NRPSI RE: Security Vetting
08/05/2013
RE: Security Vetting
I am writing to express my concern in relation to your announcement of 22/04/13 “Removal of the security vetting requirement to join the Register”.
As an independent company NRPSI sets its own criteria for admission, such criteria must reflect the central purpose of safeguarding the interests of its stakeholders and therefore NRPSI must reverse to requesting standard/enhanced vetting of interpreters.
NRPSI should make its priority to counter those issues that have led to this unfortunate and dangerous situation and in the interim a Basic CRB should be kept as minimum requirement for inclusion to prevent those with unspent criminal convictions from joining.
In order for the Register to maintain its credibility with the Police Forces and other Public Service agencies which use the NRPSI expecting that all its registrants are vetted, NRPSI should, with immediate effect, require that all its registrants have at least Basic security clearance. I do not need to remind you that anyone can apply for a basic CRB in an individual capacity, including the self-employed and even those acting on a volunteer capacity for charities.
I strongly believe that the NRPSI needs to keep the vetting mandatory in order to retain its position as the only meaningful register of Public Service Interpreters in the UK, to maintain its inclusion in the National Agreement and to continue being used for example by the CJS agencies not outsourced to the MoJ’s Framework Agreement as well as private entities.
I urge you to reconsider your decision to remove the requirement for any vetting at all for those wishing to register with NRPSI thereby safeguarding the interest of the profession and showing the required determination in overcoming any issue that may devalue the registrants’ status.
Thank you very much for your attention. I await your reply.
Laura
