Crime fighting computer celebrates record traffic

The number of transactions taking place on the Police National Computer (PNC) reached a record 10,870,276 last month, as new crime-fighting applications further boosted use of the system.

January's total was an increase of 27 per cent on the same month last year, and a new daily record of 444,515 hits was set on 18 January.

The PNC is an online intelligence tool for police forces managed by the Police Information Technology Organisation (Pito).

Launched in 1974, the system holds data on criminals, vehicles and property, which is accessible in a matter of seconds through more than 30,000 terminals across the country.

Every visit made to the PNC data collection, whether an enquiry or an update, is logged and counted as a transaction.

The increase in transactions is partly down to the PNC being linked into more systems such as the automatic number plate recognition system (ANPR) and the Airwave secure radio system, said PNC customer support manager Danny McGannan.

He said in a statement: "In the long term Airwave has the capability of allowing radio-carrying officers to perform PNC transactions directly from their hand-held or mobile device which will mean a further surge in PNC usage will be forthcoming."

Other applications are adding to the transactions on the PNC. For example the driving licence enquiry system provides an online check, removing the need to make a postal or phone request to the DVLA.

This system was used more than 500,000 times in its first 12 months and in the last 12 months has been used more than 2.5 million times, McGannan added.