Scots police data needs to improve

4 Aug 10
Scottish police forces must improve the quality and accuracy of data they submit to the Police National Computer, according to inspectors
By Vivienne Russell

4 August 2010

Scottish police forces must improve the quality and accuracy of data they submit to the Police National Computer, according to inspectors.

In a report published today, the Inspectorateof Constabulary for Scotland said progress to address problems with the data had been slow. Inspectors had revisited Scottish forces last year after a 2005 inspection had identified widespread weaknesses and made 97 recommendations.

Today’s report also said a lack of leadership within Scotland’s forces had resulted in inefficient use of personnel time and excessive instances of incomplete recording.

Inspector of constabulary for Scotland Bill Skelly said: ‘Our report shows that since our original inspection in 2005, progress to implement recommendations remains slow, with the majority of forces still lacking a clear strategic direction on the Police National Computer.’

The flow of data between Scotland’s three main criminal justice agencies – the Crown Office andProcurator Fiscal, Scottish Courts and the police needed to be more robust.

Skelly went on: ‘As all computer record errors currently default to the police, every force in Scotland is responsible for correcting not only its own errors but those of all its criminal justice partners. The result is an inefficient use of police time and resources simply to support the system itself.’

The Police National Computer is the primary police computer in the UK, holding details of people, vehicles, crime and property. It allows information to be shared through a secure network as well as linking up with a number of other law enforcement databases.

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