HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 cc606-7W
Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with his proposals for establishing a national police intelligence database; and if he will make a statement. [180794]

Caroline Flint

As announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in his statement to the House on 22 June 2004, following publication of Sir Michael Bichard's Report, the Government shall introduce the first national police intelligence computer system. Entitled "Impact", it will ensure that all forces use the same system to manage and share intelligence information. In the following debate, in answer to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten), the Home Secretary indicated Impact could he in operation in two years, building on the Police Local Exchange (PLX) which should be available next spring. In the meantime three phases are being taken forward. Firstly, Impact will combine intelligence and data from forces' operational systems to deliver real data sharing. This is happening as we speak and progress is encouraging. Secondly, Impact will have analysis tools to pick out patterns of crime. Thirdly, it will enable specific police operations, within and between forces, through briefing and tasking functions. The Police Information Technology Organisation is now undertaking a full feasibility study of the requirements and solutions to build a technical demonstrator by next spring.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the early inspection of all police force intelligence systems before issuing the proposed statutory code. [181455]

Caroline Flint

The Police Information Technology Organisation will review and evaluate all intelligence systems available off-the-shelf either commercially or already within police forces as part of the work to build a technical demonstrator for the 'Impact' national intelligence system. Additionally, the data sharing phase of Impact will require a systems and data healthcheck in each force to prepare data held locally in a common format.

The National Policing Plan requires all forces to comply with the National Intelligence Model for gathering and analysis of criminal intelligence. The Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) minimum standards form part of the baseline assessment of forces undertaken by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). The National Centre for Policing Excellence will co-ordinate the additional guidance to forces recommended by Sir Michael Bichard. This Statutory Code will sit out the standards to be monitored both through HMIC Inspections and the Police Standards Unit through the 'Policing Performance Assessment Framework'.