The Home Office launched its efforts to develop The National Law Enforcement Data Programme (NLED) in 2016 to replace two police IT systems: the Police National Computer (PNC)1 and the Police National Database (PND)2.
The PNC is the most important national policing information system in the UK and has been used as the main database of criminal records since 1974. Front-line officers use it to understand who they are interacting with, but the technology it is based on is becoming obsolete.
NLED was originally planned to be delivered in 2020, but it has faced delays and a 68 per cent rise in costs to £1.1bn.
An independent programme review commissioned by the Home Office found that if the programme continued as it was, it would be late, difficult and costly to roll out and maintain, and would not meet the needs of the police. Following this review, the Home Office reset the programme in December 2020 and, under the new plans, it is not expected to deliver...