Police given help to share data

The criminal justice extranet could have a massive impact on policing

A computer system to help police track offenders, as well as allowing forces to share information, is set to boost the fight against crime.

The Criminal Justice Extranet will allow crime-fighting agencies to securely access data held centrally.

Police say the system also allows for secure exchanges of photos of suspects.

Its development follows the Bichard Inquiry, which revealed how police information on Soham killer Ian Huntley was not shared between forces.

Virtual ID parades

"It's like our own internet but in a secure way," said the Police Information Technology Organisation.

Other benefits will include secure e-mail, discussion forums, access to the Police National Computer and "virtual" ID parades (Viper), which could cut costs and are likely to be more effective at rooting out criminals.

Witnesses will be shown a series of photographs taken in a Viper "suite" of a suspect along with others. The parade could even happen in the home of a witness.

Already in use in some forces, for example West Yorkshire Police, the new service has now opened up to all 52 UK police forces, allowing them to easily share photos.

Another key idea is the Major Incident Casualty Web (Casweb), which will allow other forces to help during major incidents, for instance the recent Boscastle floods.

Tracking offenders

Using Casweb, they will be able to help field calls from members of the public and help trace the missing during such incidents.

And the UK-wide tracking of violent and persistent as well as sex offenders should be made much easier with the multi-million pound technology.

"The greatest challenge the criminal justice sector faces today is its scale," said Mick Humphrey of the Police Information Technology Organisation (Pito).

"The CJX network encourages collaboration across departments and is vital for the secure exchange of information to help in the fight against crime."

Alison Spottiswoode, of Cable and Wireless, which signed the two-year extension deal to provide CJX, said the system was evolving all the time.

"The capacity is now there to share information. As each police force has been doing its own thing in the past, although the information has been there, they haven't been able to access it," she said.