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CRIS: innocent people on file

01 July 1994

The Metropolitan Police are to finally introduce the computerised Crime Report Information System (CRIS) 11 years after it was first proposed. Following years of experimentation with software and trial runs in local divisions more than 2,000 terminals will be introduced to London police stations over the next two years giving it "probably the best designed crime report system in Europe". Assistant Commissioner Peter Winship, chairman of the CRIS Project Board, said they are now investigating a hand held portable computer which will enable the officer on the street to download and to enter information on CRIS.

The CRIS system will computerise crime reports which are at present held on paper. Every crime report completed by police officers contains the record of a crime, location, description, victim and witnesses. The crime report is also cross referenced to the Police National Computer (PNC2) and provides space for officers to record details of their investigations and 'suspicions'.

It is potentially one of the most intrusive computer systems used by the police as it will place on permanent record not just the person(s) arrested but also a complainant, aggrieved person,
witness and suspect - none of whom would necessarily have been convicted of the offence. Thus for every reported crime there will potentially be four or more people other than those arrested for an offence who will be held on police files.

September will also see the introduction of the national Phoenix project which will put all criminal records onto the PNC. The old card index system and microfiche held by the National Identification Bureau (NIB) will become a thing of the past.

The Job 10.6.94; Police Review 24.6.94; Guide to the Met GLC, 1986; Policing London no 7 1983.