PLX system introduction

R2 Response Accepted

Recommendation

The PLX system, which flags that intelligence is held about someone by particular police forces, should be introduced in England and Wales by 2005.

Published Evidence Summary

The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:

Government response: Accepted. Police National Database (PND) launched. No independent verification has been carried out.

Sources

Government response (2004-06-22): Accepted Source: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2004-06-22/debates/3637ce59-cd9a-462c-8b69-a29dc01e93a2/BichardInquiryReport Text: The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir Michael's main recommendations and will act on them immediately." Implementation le Progress update (2011-06-01): Partially Delivered Police National Database (PND) launched. Full cross-force intelligence sharing finally achieved, replacing the limited IMPACT Nominal Index that had been deployed only to child abuse investigation units since December 2005. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/police-national-database-goes-live Progress update (2007-02-07): In Progress Parliamentary debate confirmed INI had processed over 106,000 enquiries (approx. 80% relating to child protection). Full cross-force intelligence sharing not yet achieved. IMPACT programme costs had risen significantly. Source: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2007-02-07/debates/07020745000002/BichardInquiryRecommendations Progress update (2005-12-01): In Progress PLX cross-referencing system implemented as the IMPACT Nominal Index (INI), deployed to child abuse investigation units. Over 106,000 enquiries by early 2007 (approximately 80% relating to child protection). Not available for all police work by the 2005 target date. Source: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2004-06-22/debates/3637ce59-cd9a-462c-8b69-a29dc01e93a2/BichardInquiryReport

How was this evidence gathered?

Evidence searched by baseline-data-v1 on 26 May 2026

Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)

External sources searched: hansard.parliament.uk

Jurisdiction

UK-wide

Response

Accepted

Accepted Home Office

22 Jun 2004

The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir Michael's main recommendations and will act on them immediately." Implementation led to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (now the Disclosure and Barring Service). By February 2007, 21 of the 31 recommendations had been fully or substantially completed. See Hansard, 22 June 2004.

Read Full Response

Note: Government responded with a single statement accepting all 31 recommendations. Individual per-recommendation responses were not published separately.

Progress Timeline

Home Office states: Official Report

01 Jun 2011

Police National Database (PND) launched. Full cross-force intelligence sharing finally achieved, replacing the limited IMPACT Nominal Index that had been deployed only to child abuse investigation units since December 2005.

Source

Home Office Parliamentary Answer

07 Feb 2007

Parliamentary debate confirmed INI had processed over 106,000 enquiries (approx. 80% relating to child protection). Full cross-force intelligence sharing not yet achieved. IMPACT programme costs had risen significantly.

Source

Home Office states: Official Report

01 Dec 2005

PLX cross-referencing system implemented as the IMPACT Nominal Index (INI), deployed to child abuse investigation units. Over 106,000 enquiries by early 2007 (approximately 80% relating to child protection). Not available for all police work by the 2005 target date.

Source

Inquiry Bichard Inquiry

Report The Bichard Inquiry Report 22 Jun 2004

View Source

Responsible Bodies

Home Office Primary

Themes & Tags

Police tech abuse response Police Intelligence IT Systems

Recommendation age 21.9 yrs

Last formal update 5478 days ago