Has anyone ever filled out a counter terrorism check before?

Kristoph · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:47

Quite an in-depth form as you'd imagine. Some odd questions that I guess need to be asked, e.g. Have you ever been involved in espionage? Overthrowing a government?!

Anyway, has anyone here filled one out? How long did it take to come back?

Rroff · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:50

Can't tell you what the job was (nothing exciting tho), but IIRC it took about 6 weeks to get clearance.

arctine · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:50

Yes. About a month I believe, though it wasn't me who sent or received it so I can't be sure.

I wouldn't be surprised if no one tells you what job it was for though tbh.

NiCkNaMe · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:51

6 weeks, and they're pretty standard questions on most security clearance forms

Art · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:51

Vaguely remember filling something like that out for the University OTC ages ago. "To make sure you're not Osama Bin Laden's illegitimate son" said the Sergeant.

No idea when it came back, I didn't hang around. Some of the questions were bizarre though. The temptation to tick "yes" to "are you planning to overthrow the current government" question was almost unbearable.

Kristoph · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:54

Thanks, and I've removed the question. I probably shouldn't even be posting a thread on the subject.

RomanNose · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:54

Seriously do these do anything at all. How many terrorists have been foiled by these anti terrorism checks?

Nitefly · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:56

I always thought it was amusing that when you enter the USA, there is a question on a form that pretty much exactly reads like this:

"Have you ever been a member of or a member of a group affiliated with the Nazi party of Germany circa 1939-1945?"

I mean really, who ticks yes?!

arctine · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:57

RomanNose said:
Seriously do these do anything at all. How many terrorists have been foiled by these anti terrorism checks?

You disclose A LOT of personal information such as details about your family etc.

They then use this as part of of an in depth search into your background.

It isn't just a form with yes/no questions

arctine · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:58

Nitefly said:
I always thought it was amusing that when you enter the USA, there is a question on a form that pretty much exactly reads like this:

"Have you ever been a member of or a member of a group affiliated with the Nazi party of Germany circa 1939-1945?"

I mean really, who ticks yes?!

Erm, ww2 nazis probably?

Nitefly · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:04

arctine said:
Erm, ww2 nazis probably?

Do you honestly think they would tick yes?

Ev0 · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:04

arctine said:
You disclose A LOT of personal information such as details about your family etc.

They then use this as part of of an in depth search into your background.

It isn't just a form with yes/no questions

It's not that much info to be honest, anything below DV is relatively light in what they do and ask for really.

This page some info on what apparently happens at the different levels, I cannot vouch for it's accuracy but seems reasonable

http://www.security-clearance.org.uk/

arctine · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:09

Ev0 said:
It's not that much info to be honest, anything below DV is relatively light in what they do and ask for really.

This page some info on what apparently happens at the different levels, I cannot vouch for it's accuracy but seems reasonable

http://www.security-clearance.org.uk/

Depends what you compare it to. I know people who have been pulled up on SCs because their families are Irish.

As for being DV'd, I thought half of the stuff they asked me was funny. Unfortunately the vetters aren't allowed to have a sense of humour which made it quite awkward.

Nitefly said:
Do you honestly think they would tick yes?

I've met a few German ww2 veterans who weren't ashamed to admit their past.

Ev0 · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:13

arctine said:
Depends what you compare it to. I know people who have been pulled up on SCs because their families are Irish.

I guess that I just wouldn't class what they ask for CTC/SC as 'a lot' of personal info really, although it's obviously a bit more than name and address

Hardest bit for me was remembering where parents were born!

Nitefly · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:17

arctine said:
I've met a few German ww2 veterans who weren't ashamed to admit their past.

lol, that's... convenient

I'm not so sure they would tick yes when they could simply tick no and enjoy their holiday rather than potentially being sent home.

arctine · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:20

Nitefly said:
lol, that's... convenient

I'm being 100% serious

Was lucky enough to go to Poland/Germany with this guy:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8475000/8475370.stm

Whilst there he met an old German boy and proceeded to have a full blown argument with him about where he was 1939 - 1945.

Was pretty funny tbh.

sniffy · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:23

arctine said:
I've met a few German ww2 veterans who weren't ashamed to admit their past.

That's quite different from realising that ticking "no" is just going to result in less hassle. If the USA asked "does God exist?" upon entry and I believed that ticking "no" would result in hassle then I'd gladly lie and say "yes". Wouldn't you?

arctine · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:26

sniffy said:
That's quite different from realising that ticking "no" is just going to result in less hassle. If the USA asked "does God exist?" upon entry and I believed that ticking "no" would result in hassle then I'd gladly lie and say "yes". Wouldn't you?

I suppose so but that's irrelevant.

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough but my point was that some of them are proud of their past.

Somnambulist · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:27

Yes, for my SC clearance. Basic stuff like this is nothing, it's when you start going for DV clearance and above that they start with the really personal questions.

Dunks · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:29