§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details not involving national security of the Metropolitan police C department computer, including(a) a description of the indexes held and number of entries, (b) the number of terminals attached to the system, and (c) the number of officers qualified to use the system.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner that C Department of the Metropolitan police ceased to exist with the reorganisation of the service in 1987.
Following reorganisation, a number of C department branches amalgamated with other branches to form specialist operations department.
There are 123 separate computer systems in specialist operations department. Information regarding the indexes held, the number of entries, the number of terminals attached to the systems and the number of officers authorised to use them is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give brief details of the computer systems in use and those planned for the Metropolitan police force;
(2) if he will give details of the new computer facilities that are planned for all users of the Metropolitan police specialist operations department computer.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner that the Metropolitan police service uses computer systems for criminal intelligence, financial management, equipment management, word processing, desk top publishing, computer-aided dispatch messages, and management and personnel information. In addition, the service uses the PNC and HOLMES systems.
There are plans to bring into operation within the next few years a crime report and information system (CRIS), a computer-based accounting system (FINESSE) and a system for the police estate (PREMSYS).