Police are facing criticism over the way they sought advice on proposals to charge for the security vetting services.

Currently the cost is covered out of the police's budget, but legislation before Parliament could see a five to seven dollar fee introduced for the service.

The Bill had been contentious with education and community groups worried about the extra costs the changes could impose on their work.

While police did undertake public consultation on the proposal in late 2012 and early 2013 just released papers show they also raised the issue on a one to one basis with a number of agencies.

However they were all government departments and Labour MP Kelvin Davis believes they targeted their efforts in the wrong place.

"They've gone to agencies that are going to tell them what they want to hear. Out there in the street people don't want to pay for what they see as already paid for in their taxes."

Kelvin Davis says he doubts the charges will remain within the $5-7 that's proposed.

"I don't see that our $7 figure, that we were given, is going to work. In a matter of months I would say that could bounce up to $30, $40, $50, $60."