Police National Computer

In 1969, the National Police Computer was set to be launched in 1972. Another government computer system was the GPO National Data Processing System, set up in 1969.

Since its inception in 1974, the PNC has undergone numerous changes that were gradually introduced. The most notable was the introduction of the Phoenix (Police and Home Office Enhanced Names Index) in 1995. This format has been retained to the present day.

The PNC is based on a Fujitsu BS2000/OSD SE700 mainframe and developed in ADABAS, with recent PNC applications held on UNIX servers. There are around 26,000 directly connected terminals and 25,000 terminals that are connected via local police force computer systems. The mainframe is connected to the end user in several ways: for high volume users (i.e., other police forces) via secure IP network; for low volume users, a secure dial-up link is provided by Cable & Wireless. Another connection method is via an X.25 packet-switched network; this method is being phased out. Databases for vehicles and driving 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 Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal in Buncefield, 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 (91 m) from a disaster hazard.

Requests for access to PNC are decided upon by the PNC Information Access Panel (PIAP). The members of the panel are the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), the Association of Police Authorities, and the Home Office. Delegated or subcontracted users exist.

Organisations with full access:

• All territorial police forces of Great Britain
• Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
• British Transport Police (BTP)
• Civil Nuclear Constabulary
• Isle of Man Constabulary
• States of Jersey Police
• States of Guernsey Police Service
• National Identification Service (NIS)
• National Crime Agency (NCA)
• Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
• Ministry of Defence Police (MDP)
• HM Revenue & Customs
• Security Service (MI5)
• Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)
• Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
• Defence Intelligence Staff
• Department for Work and Pensions
• National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC)

Other organisations have restricted access to names file only.

• HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Probation Service
• Criminal Records Bureau
• Royal Military Police
• Royal Air Force Police
• Royal Navy Police
• Royal Marines Police

PIAP has defined the following organisations as non-police and has agreed that authorised users within these organisations may have names file only access commensurate with their previously stated and agreed business needs.

Non-police organisations with access to PNC:

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 while 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 shows 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 keepers of motor vehicles, as well as storing other information from the DVLA as to vehicles' statuses (Tax Expired, V23 Submitted, Stolen, Chassis Number, Engine Number etc.). Certain reports can be added by the police that relate to the vehicle or occupant status; examples include whether the occupants are believed to be involved in crime or are missing, whether the vehicle is stolen, and whether the vehicle is believed to be cloned. The vehicle record system is currently linked to the Motor Insurance Database (maintained by the Motor Insurers Bureau), which can confirm whether insurance policies are on vehicles, and the details of these policies such as named drivers, policy dates, policy number and insurance company. The Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has computerised the MOT; as a result, a link has been created to the PNC, which shows the expiration date of the MOT tests for vehicles. The vehicle file actually contains two separate databases (that show on a single screen), one of which is updated and controlled by the DVLA, and the second part is the responsibility of the police (including vehicle reports, to which the DVLA does not have access).
• Property File: Certain types of stolen and found property can be placed onto the PNC system. These are recorded under the following categories: Trailers (including sidecars), Plant (non-DVLA-registered agricultural and construction machinery), Engines (those that do not fall under other categories), Animal (registered animals), Marine Craft, and Firearms (including imitation firearms).
• Drivers File: This recently added database contains information on 48 million people who either hold driving licences or are disqualified from holding them. The record contains information relating to test passes, endorsements and the licence entitlements. This database is the responsibility of the DVLA and is updated every morning.

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 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 1998.

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 proposed jurors have criminal records. 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 was linked to the Schengen Information System (SIS), which shares certain information Europe-wide. This is no longer the case since the UK left the European Union in 2020.

The Police National Computer is one of the main sources of information accessed when a Disclosure and Barring Service check is made. It holds indefinite records of convictions and cautions, which are revealed in Disclosure and Barring Service checks. While of use in informing prospective employers as to the suitability of applicants for particular jobs, the information disclosed can show information that applicants may think is of no relevance, such as a juvenile conviction for shoplifting. Concerns have been expressed that the indefinite retention of old convictions and cautions is unwarranted.

Because of changes to legislation on 29 May 2013, DBS removed certain specified old and minor offences from criminal record certificates issued from this date. The filtering rules and the list of offences that will never be filtered are available on the DBS website.

A major data loss was discovered in January 2021, and a UK Home Office press release at the time provides information on the extent of the loss and the work to restore the data.

Impact Nominal Index

In 2002, IMPACT delivered a tactical, complementary service to the PNC, called the Impact Nominal Index (INI).

Police National Database

Delivery of the PND (Police National Database) was the first recommendation of the Bichard report. Contractor Logica was awarded a contract of £75-million to build and deliver the PND in 2007, but this was not commenced until May 2010 when the first forces began to load their data on to the new system. In November 2010, Northumbria Police became the first force to connect to the PND and to begin to use the new system. From June 2011, all Home Office forces were connected and using the PND.

PND is not a replacement for PNC; as of 2023 it holds 2 billion searchable records, and captures data from 220 different systems from 53 contributing police forces and law enforcement agencies. It is operated by the Canadian company CGI Group on behalf of the Home Office. CGI bought the original PND operator, Logica, in 2012.

The Police National Database aims to:

• Safeguard children and vulnerable people;
• Counter terrorism; and
• Prevent and disrupt serious organized crime.

As of 26 July 2016, the Police National Database reportedly stored 20 million images.

In 2016, it was announced that the PNC would be decommissioned at the same time as the PND contract expired in 2019 and, under the guise of the National Law Enforcement Data Programme, a replacement would combine both systems, for the first time merging intelligence and conviction history against one nominal record. The National Law Enforcement Data Service would provide a less police-centric platform servicing all public enforcement agencies, including Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Charity Commission.

In order to ensure that only relevant data are visible to each agency, user-based access controls will limit the segments of records that an agency can access to the very minimum they require to achieve their aims. The LEDS system was in advanced development in 2024, with the PNC due to be decommissioned upon the expiry of its support contract in March 2026.

Any person now has the right to view their PNC record, if any, online or via post, free at www.acro.police.uk. This is done online where the user presents a list of addresses for the previous 10 years and an upload of an ID document, but this can also be presented offline. The results can be sent by either post or email.

These data are separate to any data a local force may hold on an individual, e.g., statements, summons files and traffic fixed penalties. This information can be requested through the relevant local force through a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act 2018.