Feedback and appeals

Requesting feedback

An applicant may seek feedback following an interview however, this is at the discretion of the hiring manager due to the volume of applications that we receive. Requests for feedback must be received by email to our recruitment team within 10 working days following the outcome of your application.

Appealing an unsuccessful application

If you are unsuccessful during the pre-employment stages of your application, you may reapply to any advertised vacancies within 6-12 months after the date of the withdrawal. The exact timescale will be confirmed on relevant documentation, and you will have the opportunity to appeal the withdrawal decision.

An appeal will be considered if it is received within 10 working days of being notified of your unsuccessful application. Appeals sent after this time will not be accepted. Acknowledgement will be made to the applicant within five working days from receipt, and the appeal will be sent to an independent party for a full investigation. Following a full investigation to the issues raised, a full and final response will be made in writing via email within 10 working days from receipt of the appeal. If it is not possible to respond fully within this time, the applicant will be contacted with reasonings why and a new date will be provided to receive an outcome.

To submit an appeal, there must be justification that there may have been:

• A failure to apply the recruitment and selection policy in a consistent and fair manner

• An inappropriate judgement or a decision that cannot be justified or evidenced

• A decision relating to medical grounds or disability discrimination. Please note that where medical information has informed a decision, our Occupational Health Unit will be consulted, and the appeal will be assessed in conjunction with current medical standards

The following are not grounds for an appeal to be made:

• General frustration at non-selection

• The design, structure and content of the recruitment and selection process

• If you feel as though you did not perform well on the day

• Disagreement with the awarded scores or scoring matrix at the assessment centre or at interview

Appealing a declined vetting decision

If your vetting clearance has been declined, an appeal against the decision must be submitted in writing to our Force Vetting Unit on [email protected].

There are three grounds of appeal against your vetting decision:

• The decision was unreasonable.

• There is information that could not reasonably have been considered by the original decision maker or evidence that could not reasonably have been considered as part of the withdrawal assessment, which could have materially affected the decision.

• There was a breach of the procedures set out in The Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 or other vetting withdrawal or decline procedure, or any unfairness which could have materially affected the decision.

Vetting appeals will be received by our team and actioned within 10 working days of receipt. Acknowledgement will be made to the applicant within five working days from receipt. The appeal will be considered by the Force Vetting Manager. If it is not possible to respond fully within this time period, the applicant will be contacted with reasonings why and a new timescale provided to receive an outcome.

Should the appeal decision determine that your vetting is declined again, there is no further right for you to appeal.

Possible outcomes

• The appeal is not founded, meaning there was insufficient supporting information to substantiate the grounds for an appeal

• An acknowledgement that the selection process was not followed therefore a further review of your application will be undertaken

• The appeal is upheld, and the candidate will continue on in the recruitment process

• Any other action deemed appropriate under the circumstances

Conclusion

Appeals will be actioned within 10 working days of the date of receipt. However, vetting and medical appeals could require more time, and, in this instance, applicants will be notified that the review is ongoing and provided with a new date for an outcome to be received.

In all cases, appeals will only be upheld if it can be shown that one or more justifiable reasons for appeal have taken place.

All applicants will receive an outcome in writing via email of the decision that has been made following the appeal. This decision is final and there is no further route to appeal. Should the applicant have any other live applications, these will immediately be withdrawn.

Applicants will be advised that they will be required to wait 6-12 months from the date of their appeal conclusion (if unsuccessful) before they are eligible to re-apply for any vacancy within Nottinghamshire Police.

Applicants should be aware that previously being unsuccessful during any stage of the recruitment process or pre-employment checks will be reviewed and the same checks will be conducted again for any future applications.

Further questions?

If you have any further questions, please email our recruitment team.