The Police National Computer (PNC), which acts as a central database of vehicle and driver information, will finally be switched off in March 2026, after 52 years of service – it went ‘live’ back in 1974 and currently holds 13 million person records and over 60 million records.

It’s being replaced by a new database, the Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS), which will provide the police with a broader spread of data. In practice, that should mean easier, quicker access to drivers’ insurance status (by connecting with the Motor Insurers Bureau), road tax (the DVLA) and MOT (DVSA).

Dr Ken German is probably Britain’s best-known expert on vehicle crime – he used to work for the Met Police Stolen Car Squad – and said “(LEDS) will provide law enforcement agencies with access to a centralised source of information on vehicles to support the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences.”

If it all sounds a bit Big Brother-ish, Dr German also aimed to reassure members of the public. “In the College of Policing codes of practice there are encouraging signs that any dealings we have, likely through the DVLA, will have better correlation with each other. The new computer clearly has the ability to do this, through the correct channels.”

At the BMF, chair Jim Freeman said, “Let’s hope it works as advertised. If it does will that be a first for government mass IT projects? I’ll personally bet on several years’ worth of public Beta testing before its completed. ”

Written by Peter Henshaw

Top image courtesy of iStock Photo – Hirung