Suppliers sought for £6bn database

New system will support better information sharing between police forces

Police database will improve intelligence sharing

Suppliers are being invited to tender for the £6bn database at the heart of the national police intelligence sharing Impact programme.

The Police National Database (PND) will allow the 42 independent forces in England and Wales to share more information.

Historically, the only nationally available data was the conviction records held on the Police National Computer. Creation of a more comprehensive system was described as ‘a national priority’ by Sir Michael Bichard in 2004, in his inquiry into police failures in the Soham murder case.

But progress has been slow. The second phase of the Impact programme – called the Cross Regional Information Sharing Project – was cancelled last month because of the extra expense of developing an interim step before the full PND is running in 2010.

A shortlist for the PND deal is due in August.