When you join the Home Office, you'll work on important and potentially sensitive issues, and you'll have access to government information and equipment.

The security checks we carry out on potential joiners ensure that we place those materials only into trusted hands.

Here are five tips to help ensure your security checks can proceed smoothly.

One. Look out for our email.

We'll send you an email from contactus@PSCops.homeoffice.gov.uk asking you to provide information.

This can sometimes get lost in candidates’ junk folders, so look out for it and add it to your trusted sender list so you don't miss it.

Two. Give yourself time and space to fill in all the requested information.

We recommend putting aside up to an hour. Try to find a private and quiet space with few distractions where you won't be overlooked.

You can always start the questionnaire and return to it at any time within 30 calendar days.

Three. Check for typos and other simple mistakes.

We often see typos or incorrect email addresses.

Some of these can be caused by copying and pasting information from other documents, which might leave blank spaces, causing errors in our system.

Four. Provide only suitable information.

Applications often provide unsuitable referees or incorrect contact details.

Guidance is available on all sections of the application, on the UKSV National Security Vetting Solutions website.

Five. Don't withhold or skip information.

Some information we request might not be known by the candidate.

It is important not to leave these sections blank, but instead to tick the ‘not all information known’ box and to add an explanation in the space provided.

So, remember taking your time and providing us with all the full information we need will help us to complete your checks efficiently and without delays.