§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Holmes system, as operated by police forces in England; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Holmes system as operated by Hampshire constabulary.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe effectiveness of the Holmes system in meeting the requirements set out by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for computer assistance in the investigation of major crime is kept under review by the Home Office in collaboration with ACPO. The present system appears to be meeting these needs satisfactorily, although work is in hand to make improvements to the system in due course.
The effectiveness of the Holmes system in use in individual police forces is a matter for chief officers.