First reported 22 Jun 2015•Latest report 16 Dec 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the PNC process specifically concerning recording, highlighting, maintaining, checking, interrogating or retrieving safety-critical risk information, including risk descriptions, warning markers and related search responsibilities.
Not included
Excludes downstream licensing, custody or operational decisions where the PNC information process itself is not deficient.
Excludes generic police information-governance, training or communication deficiencies unless they are directly tied to recording or retrieving safety-critical information on the PNC.
Excludes information systems other than the PNC, including local police databases and clinical records, unless the assertion explicitly concerns their PNC interface.
Excludes the underlying criminal, behavioural or public-safety risk when no PNC recording or retrieval failure is identified.
Reports
7
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
7
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2015–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
6
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Metropolitan Police Service3
Ministry of Justice3
Department for Work and Pensions1
Devon & Cornwall Police1
Greater Manchester Police1
HM Courts & Tribunals Service1
Home Office1
Lancashire Constabulary1
National Police Chiefs’ Council1
National Probation Service1
Probation Service1
Serco Group plc1
South Yorkshire Police1
Surrey Police1
Police force7
Ministerial department3
Executive agency1
National policing body1
Prison operator1
Sub-organisation1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
Concerns raised1
Failure of the Firearms Licensing Department to check the PNC record
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Automatically redirect firearms-related Daily Activity File reports to the Continuous Assessment Team inbox for ongoing suitability review.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 December 2025.
Action
Require the Continuous Assessment Team to review relevant prosecution reports and record the review as underway in the National Firearms Licensing Management System.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 December 2025.
Action
Require an immediate pre-return PNC check after finalising a suitability review, with a further review if relevant new information is identified.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 December 2025.
Action
Allocate additional police personnel to the Firearms Licensing and Explosives Unit to increase review capacity.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 December 2025.
Action
Check the PNC and other databases during initial suitability-review enquiries.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 December 2025.
South Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
Failure to record recent s136 detention information on the PNC check
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
South Yorkshire Police cannot alter the national PNC to implement the proposed S136 flagging change.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
A temporary S136 flag would not comply with the PNC Code of Practice because its necessity ends at handover.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Because the proposed PNC recommendation conflicts with the Code of Practice, no further action is proposed.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Lack of a system for direct entry of protective orders on the Police National Computer
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Permission for non-police agencies to enter protective orders on the Police National Computer falls outside the MPS’s authority.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Manchester North
Concerns raised1
Failure to record licence conditions on the Police National Computer
This report raised 14 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Continue collaborative work with the Police National Computer Bureau to review and improve the provision of licence information to police.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice and Probation ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2019.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.7
Position
Operational matters within each force, including the concerns raised, are the responsibility of the respective chief constable.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The NPCC lacks authority to direct chief constables to take or refrain from specific operational action.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
A full response to concerns about serious further offence reviews, curfews, and police records was delayed pending subject-matter expert consideration.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Police need not record specific licence conditions because they are accessible from the National Probation Service, which determines any breach.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Recording all licence conditions would require a significant increase in administrative time, which is not justified by the available information.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
The National Probation Service is responsible for determining whether licence or supervision conditions have been breached.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The Police and Home Office own and operate the Police National Computer, while HMPPS provides licence information through established arrangements.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice and Probation ServiceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Failure to flag material mental health and assault information on the PNC
This report raised 18 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner West London
Concerns raised1
Insufficient PNC character capacity for meaningful risk recording
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Lack of full and adequate police officer training on interrogating all PNC warning-marker details
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes failures of the PNC process specifically concerning recording, highlighting, maintaining, checking, interrogating or retrieving safety-critical risk information, including risk descriptions, warning markers and related search responsibilities.
