How many people undergo security vetting?

Balls to that

Why are elections called ‘ballots’?

— The word ballot comes from the Italian, pallotta, meaning a small ball. In Venice in the 16th century voters deposited a pallotta in a pot. The same system was used in an election in Barnstaple, Devon, in 1689, where voters were given a ball and asked to deposit it in one of two pots. The system allowed people to vote secretly by concealing the ball in one of their fists. They would hold each fist over a pot and discreetly drop it. No one watching could tell which fist had contained the ball.

Heavy vetting

How many people undergo security vetting?

— In 2022, UK Security Vetting, founded in 2017 to oversee the vetting of people working in sensitive occupations, reported 164,700 Counter Terror Checks and Security Clearances per year. There were 17,900 cases of Developed Vetting – a higher-level of check. UK Security Vetting was only processing 7% cases of Developed Vetting within its target of 95 days, and 15% of Counter Terror Checks within its 25-day target. 877 staff were involved in vetting individuals; UK Security Vetting claimed it needed 1,145. No figure was given for the percentage of people who passed or failed.

National Audit Office

Out and in

How many asylum claimants say they’re gay?

— In 2023, there were 1,377 asylum claims where sexual orientation formed part of the claim, around 2% of all claims. This was down from a peak of 7% of claims in 2016 and 2017. 42% of all LGB claims were made by asylum seekers from Pakistan, although Pakistan accounted for just 6% of total asylum claims. Uganda had the highest proportion of claimants who claimed to be LGB: 49% of its applicants. The grant rate for LBG claims in 2023 was 62%. The grant rate for non-LGB claims was 67%.

Home Office