Bichard calls for national IT system

The Government has confirmed it will introduce a national police intelligence computer system and a service-wide statutory code of practice on information handling following the recommendations of the Bichard Inquiry Report.

In the short term, the Government is aiming for the nationwide introduction of the police local cross-reference (PLX) system, currently being piloted by the West Midlands, West Mercia and Staffordshire forces, to be brought forward to the autumn of this year, and to be completed by spring 2005.

The publication of Sir Michael Bichard’s report into the events leading up to the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells by Ian Huntley, prompted Home Secretary David Blunkett to call on the Humberside Police Authority to suspend Chief Constable David Westwood.

Sir Michael said the report had uncovered “errors, omissions, failures and shortcomings which are deeply shocking”. Mr Westwood had himself described the mistakes made by the Humberside force as “systemic and corporate”, and Sir Michael stated that the chief constable should “take personal as well as corporate responsibility for not identifying and dealing with these earlier”.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Sir Michael said: “There was not one single occasion in all of the contacts with Huntley – including eight sexual offence allegations notified to Humberside Police – when the record systems worked properly. And that means that I cannot be confident that it was Huntley alone who ‘slipped through the net’.”

While the Cambridgeshire force was also criticised for mistakes made during record checks on Huntley, Sir Michael said the errors were “not systemic nor corporate, and the specific errors, as it happens, had only limited consequences”.

But while the media headlines have focused on Mr Westwood’s refusal to step down, the long-term impact for the police service could be nationwide.

Sir Michael said there was an “urgent” need for the introduction of a police IT system to support the collection, retention and use of police intelligence, as well as investment in the PNC to secure its medium and long-term future.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said the report had uncovered “serious failures in recording and managing information”.

“These failures include local systems for recording, retaining and accessing data. The recommendations in the report apply to a range of public services and government departments. The Government accepts Sir Michael`s main recommendations and will act on them immediately.

“It is our task to ensure clear national standards as well as providing strong leadership, but other national bodies and local agencies also have a key role in strengthening the system.”

ACPO President Chris Fox said the Association had already identified four key strategic issues in relation to the Inquiry, and that work was already underway. These are:

• The development of a core IT infrastructure system to a specific timetable. ACPO has submitted a £140m bid for funding over the next three years, with the Police Information

• Technology Organisation (PITO), to fund a plan for a national intelligence system, including modernisation of the Police National Computer.

• A joint review with the Criminal Records Bureau of the enhanced disclosure regime, which identified both strengths and weaknesses of a central body. ACPO will work with the Home Office, Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health to implement the recommendation for a central body and a registration scheme.

• Establishing with the National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE), an agreed method of supporting any force with a high profile case or incident, with cutting-edge mutual support arrangements.

• The inclusion of inspections of forces’ IT infrastructure, structures for intelligence handling, structures for in-force serious inquiries and NCPE mutual support arrangements, as part of HMIC’s baseline assessments to ensure public have confidence in a force’s ability to deal with an incident.

“Over the last ten years, ACPO