www.iva.co.uk

I am a serving police officer. Would an IVA compromise my integrity in the job?

Not at all, my hubby is a prison officer and we are in an IVA, I know bankruptcy is not an option for you as it isn't for us but an IVA would be fine

Hi and welcome. It may well depend upon your terms and conditions of employment in your own force. You could make an anonymous call to Professional Standards and ask.

Different areas treat the iva differently but there are many police officers in iva's. Better an officer sorting out his debts than one heavily in debt doing nothing about it!!!

Paul

Kallis I'm exactly the same as you.
I don't know whether the powers to be know about mine or not but there was something about bankruptcy and IVA's on our Force Intranet a couple of years ago saying you must declare it but I was already in my IVA at the time so I kept stump. I did hear a Sergeant a couple of years ago saying that we were all going to be credit checked but nothing ever come of it so I didn't worry.
I made my last payment end of July and hopefully no-one in work knows at all.
In our Force a Police Officer does have to declare it though.

We have done IVAs for many serving police officers and indeed I know of one company that is run by a serving policeman with the full support of the bosses. The police are no different to other employers in that they want the best for the welfare of their staff so if in doubt ask around and even speak to the Federation.

It does have an impact if you want to transfer forces, take a career breaker leave and rejoin. Also any role that requires higher security clearance such as counter terrorism can be an issue. If none of these will be an issue then you have a problem with an IVA.

Hi John.cr welcome to the forum - I think mattyboy's last line meant to read do not have a problem with an IVA??!

Hopefully the replies above have put your mind at rest. A lot of police officers look at IVAs as an option as it allows you to sort out your debts but will not be an issue with the job like bankruptcy. Also, the fact that you can keep a share of any overtime earned is attractive too as this can help with the budgetting.

You will find out more about it when you speak to a couple of professionals to understand your options and the implications of each.

Regards,

I was in an iva whilst a serving officer and I know a lot of officer in an iva. I even got counterpart terrorism clearance. The federation can be very supportive. My advice once you have an iva is to declare it to your vetting unit. If it pops up a few years in it can be stressful explaining it all again. My iva has finished now im still in the job so any advice you need just post on here. This site is a lifeline.

Sorry about the spelling in my last post doing it on my phone. Got to fat fingers I think

I think it does differ from force to force.

Kallis,
Don't be to sure i know it is different from force to force but just because a credit check is involved does not mean an IVA would be negative. As i have said before its about honesty and integrity as you know in our line of work. Some force (luckily my force is one) will not stop any Police Officer with an IVA getting the highest security vetting as long as they are honest about it. I can not speak for civilian staff as they are on different contracts. All i can say without giving to much of my identity away is that i am within the management ranks of the service, and the only thing that the service can not tolerate is dishonesty. I see an IVA as a positive. We all have problems people in an IVA have been responsible enough to admit to it a and take a legal way to address it. Many forces welfare sections will even give details of numerous IVA firms for Officers to get advice from. I really wish that this would be taken up at national level so we have a clear message to Police Officers that help is available and not to be ashamed. If we had, it may have saved a few officers lives. Im aware of at least 2 suicides in the past year linked to financial problems. (unfortuantatly im not that high ranking)
Sorry about going off on one, I and i know others have been in that totally desperate situation in the job. I just want people to know they have hope. Also sorry about the typing again still on the mobile. I need a works laptop!

Absolutely not. Your integrity as a police office has nothing to do with the fact that you have debts that you cannot afford to repay. the Police Forces these days are taking a far more sensible approach to their officers in financial difficulty. I regularly engage with Force Welfare departments and continue to be encouraged by the changing attitude I see across the board.

Cant talk for all forces but i have just informed mine - West Mercia -- and apart from a chat with the boss, thats it. I do know of someone within the same force who had not declared his and when he applied for security clearance for a high profile job, failed. He was told if he had declared it he would have got the job he was after. My advice is tell them -save worrying that they will find out during the next 5 years.