Police National Computer

Originally developed in the early 1970s, PNC1 went 'live' in 1974, providing UK police forces with online access to the lost/stolen vehicle database.

These CRO records could be accessed online in real-time by all UK police forces via the "Names" applications.

[1] The PNC now consists of several databases available 24 hours a day, giving access to information of national and local matters.

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.

A number of criminal justice partners are linked to the PNC, giving them access to the information held on the computer.

Previously, the Courts Service struggled to meet its target of randomly checking 20 per cent of potential jury members.

The Police National Computer is one of the main sources of information accessed when a Disclosure and Barring Service check is made.

The Police National Computer holds indefinite records of a person's convictions and cautions which will be revealed in a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Contractor Logica was awarded a contract of £75M 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.

[14] PND is not a replacement for PNC; as of 2023[update] it holds 2 billion searchable records, and captures data from 220 different systems from 53 contributing police forces and law enforcement agencies.

The National Law Enforcement Data Service would provide a less police-centric platform servicing all public enforcement agencies ranging from the Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Charity Commission.