Value for Money

The National Law Enforcement Data Programme

Published 10 September 2021 6 recommendations Home Office Crime, justice and lawDigital servicesDigital transformationDigital, data and technologyLegacy systemsPolicing nao.org.uk
This report assesses the Home Office’s progress in delivering the National Law Enforcement Data Service programme to replace outdated police ICT systems.

Recommendations (6)

Source: NAO Recommendations Tracker · PAC follow-up below
6
Accepted
5
Implemented
6
NAO Confirmed
Home Office
Rec 1 Accepted Implemented
The Department should: a) Clarify immediately the respective roles and responsibilities of the Home Office and the police for delivery of the new service, particularly on decision-making authority at key stages.
Page 10, paragraph 20, point a 07/2021
Home Office
Rec 2 Accepted Implemented
b) Agree a revised business case for the programme that covers its whole lifecycle, with central government stakeholders and funders including the police.
Page 10, paragraph 20, point b 07/2021
Home Office
Rec 3 Accepted Implemented
c) Set out a clear programme plan, including delivering the first product to the police during 2021, and outline plans beyond that which demonstrate how NLEDS will replace the PNC’s capabilities in the time required (by 2025-26). It should also include the key dependencies for the programme’s delivery, particularly how police forces will transition from the PNC toNLEDS.
Page 10, paragraph 20, point c 08/2023
Home Office
Rec 4 Accepted Implemented
d) Produce plans setting out how it will guarantee a continuing PNC service that the police can rely on until NLEDS is ready, including a full assessment of the risks of continuing to run the PNC and contingency plans for failure. This plan should include a review point at which the decision to replace the PNC’s operating system can be taken promptly.
Page 10, paragraph 20, point d 04/2022
Home Office
Rec 5 Accepted Implemented
e) Monitor its technical capability and skills to deliver the programme, and urgently address any shortfalls.
Page 10, paragraph 20, point e 09/2023
Home Office
Rec 6 Accepted No Longer Relevant
f) In procuring new suppliers, consider carefully the balance of risks and incentives between the Department and suppliers, and how it will integrate the work of different suppliers, in order to deliver the new services to an assured timetable.
Page 10, paragraph 20, point f 09/2022

Parliamentary Committee Follow-Up

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

Twenty-Ninth Report - The National Law Enforcement Data Programme
Public Accounts Committee · 8 December 2021 · 10 recommendations
View PAC report & government responses parliament.uk