[holding answer 28 April 2008]: All police forces in England and Wales use some form of computer system for the management and recording of missing persons reports. The details of the systems that each police force has in place are given in the following table. This information was obtained from the October 2007 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary “Inspection Reports on Protecting Vulnerable People—Missing Persons”, in combination with research carried out by the Missing Persons Bureau (MPB).
A total of 20 police forces use WPC Software’s Community Policing and Case Tracking (COMPACT) computer system to record and manage their missing persons’ cases. Electronic data transfer between ‘COMPACT’ forces and the MPB’s ‘Hermes’ system is being arranged.
Automatic data transfer mechanisms for the other systems are being investigated.
At a national level, the MPB use Hermes, which is a purpose-built electronic database, developed and implemented by the Missing People charity through the Invest to Save Initiative in 2004-05. The shared technology between the MPB and the charity facilitates effective transfer of data between the two organisations and collaborative efforts on research and analysis projects.
All police forces and the MPB also have access to the Police National Computer (PNC). The national Guidance on the Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons indicates that officers should record details of all missing persons reported to them on the PNC within 48 hours.
Force Paper or Electronic System details Avon and Somerset Electronic ‘Guardian’ used. Bedfordshire Electronic WPC Community Policing and Case Tracking (COMPACT) used. Cambridgeshire Electronic ‘Lotus Notes’ database linked to ‘Intrepid’ and Police National Computer (PNC). Cheshire Electronic High risk missing person cases are managed via ‘PROMS’, otherwise ‘ATLAS’ used. City of London Police Electronic ‘Integra’ (incident management) used. Cleveland Police Electronic MS ‘Access’ database used. The force also uses ‘Intergraph’ C&C system linked to ‘IRIS’. Cumbria Constabulary Electronic ‘SLEUTH’ used. Derbyshire Constabulary Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Dorset Police Electronic Bespoke missing persons case management system. Durham Constabulary Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Dyfed-Powys Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Essex Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Gloucestershire Constabulary Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Greater Manchester Police Electronic Bespoke system called ‘OPUS’. Gwent Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Hampshire Constabulary Electronic Niche ‘RMS’ used. Hertfordshire Constabulary Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Humberside Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Kent Police Electronic ‘STORM’ used. Lancashire Constabulary Electronic ‘SLEUTH’ used. Leicestershire Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Lincolnshire Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Merseyside Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Metropolitan Police Electronic ‘Merlin’ used. Norfolk Constabulary Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. North Wales Police Electronic ‘iTrace’ used. North Yorkshire Police Electronic Niche ‘RMS’ used. Northamptonshire Police Electronic ‘CHAMPION’ used. Northumbria Police Electronic ‘CIS’ used. Nottinghamshire Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. South Wales Police Electronic Niche ‘RMS’ used. South Yorkshire Police Electronic ‘iTrace’ used. Staffordshire Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Suffolk Constabulary Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. Surrey Police Electronic ‘CIS’ used. Sussex Police Electronic ‘CIF’ database used. Thames Valley Police Electronic Bespoke system. Warwickshire Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. West Mercia Constabulary Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force. West Midlands Police Electronic A ‘COMPACT’ force West Yorkshire Police Electronic ‘IBIS’ command and control system used linked to ‘OIS’ and ‘CORVUS’ Wiltshire Constabulary Electronic Bespoke system linked to Niche ‘RMS’