DBS vetting process - Disciplinary action
Case reference FOI2025/00966
Received 4 September 2025
Published 18 September 2025
Request
I would like to ask how many operational frontline firefighters ranked from Firefighter to Station Officer are currently facing disciplinary action due to "Non-Compliance" with the newly introduced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Vetting conducted by Essex County Council through their sub-contractor www.e2evetting.co.uk.
Specifically, I am asking how many London Fire Brigade Firefighters are facing disciplinary action for non compliance with the actual Vetting Process, for example:
- Failure to respond to email requests for identity documents.
- Regarding emails from an outside organisation (Essex County Council) as Spam and classifying them as Junk Emails / Phishing scams in line with security awareness training
- Failure to submit identity documents
- unable to photograph identity documents
- Submission of wrong / incorrect / inaccurate identity documents
- unable to take identity photographs
- Submission of wrong / incorrect / inaccurate identity photographs.
I am not asking how many firefighters are facing disciplinary action following the DBS process uncovering an undisclosed criminal history, false qualifications, etc.
Response
Our People Services department have provided the following figures for the number of firefighters facing disciplinary action for non-compliance with Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) vetting:
- Failure to respond to email requests for identity documents.
Between zero and five.
- Regarding emails from an outside organisation (Essex County Council) as Spam and classifying them as Junk Emails / Phishing scams in line with security awareness training
Between zero and five.
- Failure to submit identity documents
Between zero and five.
- unable to photograph identity documents
Between zero and five.
- Submission of wrong / incorrect / inaccurate identity documents
Between zero and five.
- unable to take identity photographs
Between zero and five.
- Submission of wrong / incorrect / inaccurate identity photographs.
Between zero and five.
As the numbers for each category you have requested are so small, providing the exact figures could lead to individuals being identified from the data. Therefore, I consider a further breakdown exempt from disclosure under the FOIA Section 40 – Personal Information.
Documents
This is London Fire Brigade's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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