Police National Computer

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The Police National Computer (PNC) is a computer system used extensively by law enforcement organisations across the United Kingdom. Created in 1974 and now consisting of several databases accessible 24 hours a day, giving access to information of national as well as local significance. As of July 2006 there are over 97 million records held on the PNC (including persons, driving licences and vehicles) and over 13 million record transactions took place over the same month. It is currently run by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA). The NPIA was established following the merger of the National Centre for Policing Excellence (Centrex) and the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) in April 2007.

The PNC was born in 1974 with Stolen Vehicles as its initial database. Since then, additional applications have been implemented almost every year. The range of facilities, level of detail and potential value of information stored on the PNC has improved significantly. This has led to the PNC being more of an investigative tool rather than its original purpose of a record keeping one.

The PNC currently is based on a Fujitsu Siemens S-170 mainframe running the BS2000 operating system with recent PNC applications held on UNIX servers. Currently there are around 26,000 directly connected terminals and 25,000 terminals which are connected via local police force computer systems. The Mainframe is connected to the end user by a multitude of ways, for high volume users (i.e. other police forces) via Secure IP Network, for low volume users a secure dial up link provided by Cable & Wireless. Another connection method is via a X.25 packet-switched network, this method is currently being phased out. Databases for vehicles and drivers licences are copied from the DVLA databases in the early morning (there is no service loss when an update is in progress) The mainframe server is located at the Hendon Data Centre with back up servers located around the UK.

In 2005 the only back up server was located next to Buncefield Oil Storage Terminal which was the scene of a major civil emergency when it burned to the ground in December 2005. According to the Home Office the location had been assessed as low-risk notwithstanding that the site was 100 yards from a disaster hazard and the site and its surrounding, including the Police National Computer, were burned to ground [1].

Organisations with Full Access:

Other organisations have Restricted access they include; HM Court Service, Probation Service and the Criminal Records Bureau.

PNC contains several separate databases; these include:

  • Names File - This contains a large amount of information about people who have been convicted, cautioned or recently arrested (referred to as 'nominals' on the PNC). This includes links to fingerprints and DNA (the PNC is a text only computer so no graphical information is stored, photos that are taken whilst in custody have information relating to their location so enquiries can be made to obtain a copy of them). Nominals can be placed on the PNC as 'Wanted/Missing' if they are sought in connection with a crime, on warrant and failed to appear at court, AWOL from military service or reported missing. All recent previous arrests and convictions will appear on PNC as well as any impending offences - full disposal history is also included which will show the sentence handed-down for each offence. Numerous other items of information are also stored including all previous addresses, co-defendants, local intelligence, marks/scars and descriptions.
  • Vehicle File - Provides details on the registered keeper of a motor vehicle, as well as storing other information from the DVLA as to the vehicles status (Tax Expired, V23 Submitted, Stolen, Chassis Number, Engine Number etc.). Certain reports can be added by the police which relate to the vehicle or occupant status, examples include if the occupants are believed to be involved in crime or are missing, if the vehicle is stolen, if the vehicle is believed to be cloned etc. The vehicle record system is currently linked to the Motor Insurance Database (maintained by the Motor Insurers Bureau) which can confirm if an insurance policy is on the vehicle and the details of such policy such as named drivers, policy dates, policy number and insurance company. As of 2006 the DVLA have begun to computerise the MOT (test), as a result a link has been created to the PNC which shows the expiration date of the MOT test on that vehicle, at the start of 2007 the role out will be completed all vehicles will show this. The vehicle file actually contains two separate databases (that show on a single screen so no visual difference) one of which is the updated and controlled by the DVLA and the second part is the responsibility of the police (this includes vehicle reports, the DVLA do not have access to this information).
  • Property File - Certain types of stolen and found property can be placed onto the PNC system, these are; Trailers, Plant, Engines, Animals, Marine and Firearms.
  • Drivers File - This recently added database contains information on 48 million people who either hold a driving licence or are disqualified from holding one. The record will contain information relating to test passes, endorsements and the licence entitlements. This database is the responsibility of the DVLA and is updated every morning. Access to this database is more strictly controlled than the others (access is only authorised for situations where a Police Officer could require to see the driving licence in any case, such as a road traffic collision)

PNC operators undergo initial training to operate the system which usually consists of a five day course to view data and conduct simple queries, further courses are available to expand the users access level to update and conduct more in-depth queries. Penalties for misuse of the PNC and unlawful access of data are severe, it will likely lead to dismissal and sometimes a court appearance for breaching the Data Protection Act.

A number of criminal justice partners are linked to the PNC, giving them access to the information held on the computer. About 5,000 checks are made each week through the ‘Jurors’ link, which allows crown courts to check whether a proposed juror has a criminal record. Previously, the Courts Service struggled to meet its target of randomly checking 20 per cent of potential jury members.

With the growth of trans-national criminality, the PNC is to be linked to the Schengen Information System (SIS) which shares certain information Europe-wide.

The Police National Computer is one of the main sources of information accessed when a Criminal Records Bureau check is made. The Police National Computer holds indefinite records of a persons conviction and cautions which will be revealed in a Criminal Records Bureau check. While of use in informing prospective employers as to the suitability of an applicant for a particular job, the information disclosed can show information which the applicant may think is of no relevance such as a juvenile conviction for shoplifting where the applicant is now a thirty year old individual and applying for a job in a bank. Concerns have been expressed that the indefinite retention of old convictions and cautions is unwarranted. See Police ordered to delete records

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