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The National Law Enforcement Data Programme

This report assesses the Home Office’s progress in delivering the National Law Enforcement Data Service programme to replace outdated police ICT systems.

Published: 10 Sep 2021 Recommendations: 6 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 6 Department: Home Office
Dept: Home Office Topics: Crime, justice and lawDigital servicesDigital transformationDigital, data and technologyLegacy systemsPolicing nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

6 items
6 accepted 5 implemented

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Home Office · Source location: Page 10, paragraph 20, point a

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.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 07/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Home Office · Source location: Page 10, paragraph 20, point b

b) Agree a revised business case for the programme that covers its whole lifecycle, with central government stakeholders and funders including the police.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 07/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Home Office · Source location: Page 10, paragraph 20, point c

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.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 08/2023 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 4

Addressee: Home Office · Source location: Page 10, paragraph 20, point d

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.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 04/2022 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 5

Addressee: Home Office · Source location: Page 10, paragraph 20, point e

e) Monitor its technical capability and skills to deliver the programme, and urgently address any shortfalls.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 09/2023 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 6

Addressee: Home Office · Source location: Page 10, paragraph 20, point f

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.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: No longer relevant · 09/2022 · Confirmed by NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

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