Response officer access to case information technology
1. Lancashire Constabulary should ensure response officers have access to effective technology providing clear, essential case information.
2. The National Police Chiefs’ Council, College of Policing and Home Office should review whether current policing information systems, particularly the limitations on cross‑force access, are suitable for modern policing needs.
- The Home Office published a data protection impact assessment for the Law Enforcement Data Service, described as being developed to modernise and replace the Police National Computer (Law Enforcement Data Service data protection impact assessment 2026, Home Office, June 2026).
- The government response states the Home Office has completed the recommended review, that LEDS is the new national platform replacing the PNC with completion expected by the end of 2026/27, and that the PNC is due to be switched off this financial year (Government Response to Phase 1 of the Southport Inquiry, CP 1623, Home Office, July 2026).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Home Office is the lead department for central government and has completed the recommended review. Progress and next steps:
- The Home Office, jointly with the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, regularly assesses the adequacy of policing IT systems, in particular how they impact frontline policing's ability to access the data they require to be effective. As a result, we have a clear understanding of the gaps and have prioritised activity to maximise the improvements we can make with the investment available.
- To improve access to cross-force data the Home Office is actively replacing legacy IT systems, such as the Police National Computer (PNC). which is 50 years old. Additionally, in the White Paper From local to national: a new model for policing, the Home Office announced that it would work with policing to develop a new National Data Integration and Exploitation Service (NDIES) to better integrate data across forces and improve access to policing data.
- The Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS) is the new national data platform replacing the PNC. LEDS will provide real-time, joined-up access to national and local policing data. PNC is due to be switched off this financial year.
- LEDS completion is expected by the end of 2026/27, and NDIES will have commenced delivery by the end of 2026/27.
Progress Timeline
Government response published 2 July 2026 (CP 1623). The government accepted this recommendation; the lead department reports implementation is in progress.
Awaiting government response. Phase 1 report published 13 April 2026.