PNC PND Bureau

Our work

“The work we do in the Bureau is varied and really does support frontline operational policing, from checks on suspects, to dealing with warrants for people wanted by police in connection with a crime or breach of a court order, and much more.

“We carry out checks on PNC and PND to help officers with their investigations. For example about potential suspects, or to check whether a vehicle is stolen.

“It would be fair to say our work covers all aspects of police work. For example, we make initial enquiries to try and identify a suspect, and then once the officer has the details they need, they may circulate the person as ‘wanted’ on PNC. We would then input any updates and add appropriate markers and establish whether any vehicles are registered to the suspect.

“When a suspect is arrested and bought into custody, further updates are made to their record, and again after any court appearance. It is a continual process and it’s crucial we maintain and ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data on PNC at all times.

Our people

Our Warrants Officers, Dawn and Chloe, joined the department in 2023. They manage the warrants issued by the courts, and support officers by carrying out checks and providing the information they need to locate and arrested a wanted suspect.

Our PNC/PND auditor John is one of our retired officers who loved the job so much he couldn’t keep away.  John is responsible for sorting out all the access issues with PND.

“Andrew and Lynsey work closely with the Force’s County Lines Development Officer to ensure relevant information about those involved in county lines related crime is identified and recorded correctly on PND – which helps support investigations nationally as well as locally.

“PND also requires modern slavery human trafficking markers, which are currently dealt with by Kate. Kate was instrumental in setting up many of our processes which are still used today and have been replicated within other forces.

“Other areas of our work include making sure court orders are added to our systems. Some of the orders have pages of conditions, all of which must be typed – it’s a good job we have Jackie, who began her police career in the typing pool almost 40 years ago.

“Gavin has worked for Northamptonshire Police for 21 years and his experience and knowledge are second to none. He looks after the recording of court results, which is complex and requires attention to detail at all times, as any errors could affect a DBS application, a vetting check and much more.

“Gavin also carries out all the data-merging of records to make sure there are no duplicate records. He’s a great record-keeper and if we need details of a legislation or process, you can guarantee he will find it in his files somewhere.

“Pat has been with the Force for 20 years, bringing his experience and knowledge from the FCR to the team. He assists with the court results and keeps PNC updated with details of any conditional cautions issued. He’s also a great statistician and keeps meticulous records. Greg, who previously worked in the PNC Bureau for another force, also deals with the daily updating of PNC and court results. 

“Staff responsible for the day-to-day PNC and PND enquiries and related work are Andrew, David (another retired officer of 30 years), Lynette, Christian and Beth – who is an Excel whizz and updates and manages the hundreds of processes we have to adhere to. 

"I work alongside my fellow PNC PND Manager Stuart, and we are both immensely proud of the wealth of experience our team brings to the table.  Stuart has worked for Northamptonshire Police for more than 21 years, 17 of these in PNC, and knows almost everything there is to know about PNC.

“Indeed, many of our team have years, if not decades, of expertise, making them invaluable resources for knowledge and guidance. At the same time the team includes younger talent, like William, who I'm sure won't mind me saying is just 24, bringing a fresh perspective and a different way of thinking to the workplace.

“Looking to the future, the Police National Computer is 50 years old and is due to be decommissioned next year. It will be replaced by the Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS).

“Bureau staff in Northamptonshire and across the UK are playing an active role in preparing for the implementation of LEDS, which will continue to provide critical data to frontline officers, investigators and other law enforcement personnel, to uphold safety, justice and operational efficiency.”

PNC PND Officer Lynsey

“Northamptonshire Police has been a part of my working life for 19 years, nine of which have been within the PNC/PND Bureau.  

“PNC gives me a chance to develop and learn new skills, and whilst challenging me every day, it’s never boring! I am lucky enough to work in a role that is so varied, providing opportunities to grow and expand my knowledge within the Bureau and also through secondments in linked areas of business such a Custody and the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) .

“I have recently challenged myself to learn new skills of direct data entry on PND, and a proud moment for me was receiving a Superintendent’s Commendation for my contribution to a policing operation.

“We are a forward-thinking department that has faced many changes over the years, most recently preparing for the transition from the PNC to LEDS, which is fast approaching. As a team we are a pioneering force shaping the way LEDS will look and operate for forces nationwide. This is something I am particularly proud of as every team member is getting involved in offering their invaluable knowledge and expertise.”

PNC PND Manager Linda McMaster

“My career with Northamptonshire Police began in 2008 in the Force Control Room (FCR), having previously worked in the travel industry. I worked with some fantastic people and enjoyed several roles, including crime recorder, crime senior, quality development officer, and a trainer of new staff. I joined the PNC Bureau as a team leader in 2014, as I wanted to develop my skills as a leader. 

“I’m most proud of the colleagues I helped recruit, carrying out their training and mentoring them in their role, and who have since gone on to become police officers, managers and HR business partners. It’s rewarding knowing they had a good grounding from their time in the FCR.

“I’m proud to be a PNC/PND manager, and I’m proud of my team and of the work we are doing to help develop and implement the new national Law Enforcement Data Service, LEDS.”

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