Police National Computer: data quality

Report: 9
Date: 10 April 2001
By: Commissioner and Clerk

Summary

This report highlights national concerns over the quality of data stored on the Police National Computer (PNC). All police authorities are being encouraged by the APA to request a report on the systems in place to ensure the integrity of data locally. This paper recommends that PSPM seek an assurance from the MPS that PNC data quality is subject to an audit and that national recommendations with regard to PNC data be implemented. The report also sets out the MPS response to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary report 'On the Record' published in July 2000, which also highlighted concerns over PNC data quality.

A. Recommendations

1. That PSPM requests that the MPS provides details of PNC data audit plans and the results of any audits.
2. That PSPM note the progress made so far by the MPS on this important issue.

B. Supporting information

1. The Police National Computer (PNC), and the Phoenix intelligence information within it, holds national records from all forces with regard to offender details. This data is subject to the Data Protection Act and the police service as a whole must be able to demonstrate the accuracy and integrity of information held on PNC.

2. On 23 February 2001, the Association of Police Authorities, APA, wrote to the Clerks and Chairmen of Authorities regarding concerns over data quality on PNC. The letter states that a Police Research review carried out in 1998 found problems with data quality on PNC and that in response ACPO produced recommendations for improvement. However, an HMIC inspection in July 2000 found that many forces had not adequately addressed the recommendations made.

3. The chairman of ACPO has written to Chief Constables and Commissioners seeking urgent and positive action, asking in particular that:

• the Chief Constable/ Commissioner become personally involved in the action plan for improving PNC data quality for his or her force, both in terms of its credibility and effectiveness;
• personnel be provided to carry out a force-by-force audit of PNC data quality.

4. The letter concludes that this is a matter that goes to the heart of efficient and effectiveness of the police service. As such, the APA recommends that Police Authorities will wish to ask their Chief Constable/ Commissioner what actions they are taking to respond to the requirement for an action plan. The first recommendation made above is to formally request that actions and audits are carried out by the MPS and reported back to PSPM.

5. Further urgency has been lent to this process by the fact that the Information Commissioner has made it clear that she is not satisfied that the police service is complying with the terms of the Data Protection Act. The risk is that if she is not convinced that the police service is taking this issue seriously, she would have to declare that the Criminal Records Bureau could not go live on its due date later this year, because the data on which it depended was not fit for purpose.

6. Assistant Commissioners Territorial Policing and Specialist Operations have appointed Commander Phillip Hagon of the Directorate of Quality Performance and Review to Chair a PNC Steering Group to implement the relevant recommendations within HMIC's report 'On the Record'.

7. Progress on putting into effect the HMIC recommendations is illustrated in the attached MPS PNC Steering Group response (Appendix 1). In addition, Borough Commanders have been instructed to ensure that new cases are entered within 72 hours. This is being achieved across the Metropolitan Police Service in 85 per cent of cases and is the subject of monitoring within the Territorial Policing Monthly Management Report. Boroughs have also been instructed to make more progress towards reducing the tens of thousands of impending prosecution cases that are still outstanding. The progress in clearing this backlog reported upon in the Territorial Policing Monthly Management Report.

8. This is a subject that has been reviewed at Performance Review Committee. It will be subject to further progress reports to that Committee during the course of this year.

C. Financial implications

There are no financial implications over and above the implications from recommendations already made nationally.

D. Background papers

• MPS PNC Steering Group Response to Report of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary 'On the Record'

E. Contact details

The author of this report are Commander Phillip Hagon, MPS and Johanna Gillians, Senior Analyst, MPA.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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