§ Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of state for the Home Department what progress has been made with the development of computer systems for the purpose of serious crime investigation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe operational trial of the experimental major incident system (MIRIAM) has been concluded and a specification for a computer system to handle major inquiries has been drawn up. Talks have taken place between the Home Office and potential suppliers and its is hoped that the first systems will have been written by early 1985.
Guidance on interim arrangements for the use of computers in major investigations was given in Home Office circular No. 80/1983, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The arrangements are based on the proprietary software package Auto Index, with provision for data to be transferred to a computer bureau—or, from 1 January 1985, the police national computer—in cases where this is necessary either because of the size of the investigation or because data from linked incidents need to be merged. A similar facility will be provided for the post-MIRIAM systems in due course.