Mick North, the father of one victim, has seen the files.
Dunblane: files show police flaws
By MARCELLO MEGA
SECRET files on the Dunblane massacre that are finally opened to the public tomorrow will confirm incompetence among police and prosecutors, but demolish widespread claims of conspiracy and cover-up.
The father of one of the victims has already been given access to the files, which he says prove that police failed to take proper action against Thomas Hamilton despite numerous separate incidents that were cause for concern.
Dr Mick North, whose only daughter Sophie was one of the 16 children murdered with their teacher in March 1996, examined all 106 files which were originally "closed" for 100 years but will be open to inspection from tomorrow.
North says the papers explain away several sensational theories about the killings, including one suggestion that police officers had been tipped off that Hamilton was about to go on a rampage. The truth, he says, is that off-duty officers were simply dropping off their own children at the school.
But North concludes that the "arrogant" decision to try to lock away the papers for a century fuelled many wild and hurtful theories.
The thousands of documents were viewed by North in the Crown Office HQ in Edinburgh and include thousands of pages of police and witness statements, medical reports and autopsy examinations.
North said: "The documents I viewed in many ways confirmed what I already believed I knew about the role of the police and the involvement of the procurator fiscal service."
Hamilton's behaviour in the years before the massacre caused great concern and the documents prove a lack of joined-up thinking among police and prosecutors.
North said: "You have a situation where a number of reports are being received by the police of behaviour towards children that is worrying, and these reports outline similar types of behaviour.
"Yet every incident was viewed in isolation. Someone was behaving inappropriately, repeatedly showing aggression towards children, and the margins of the system were not flexible enough to allow the matter to be investigated properly."
North's examination of the documents has also reinforced his concerns about the Cullen Inquiry into the massacre itself. "One of the clearest conclusions I can draw from the vast quantity of documents I viewed is that the inquiry did nothing to address this key point: how should society deal with an individual like Hamilton?" he said.
"Too often the inquiry appeared as a process run by the Establishment largely for the benefit of the Establishment in an attempt to minimise damage and to reassure the public that there was not too much to worry about. Yet the arrogant decision to hide these documents away has left a festering sore that has never healed."
North also says the documents prove that police misled the inquiry about when parents were told their children had died.
"Parents of the children who died were not informed until 2:30pm at the earliest, yet the police said the time was 1:30pm. It's impossible to know why this discrepancy occurred because it was not examined, but it's inexcusable because the same documents reveal all the identifications were complete by 1pm.
"In fact, I learned that by 10.20pm staff had identified about half of the children, yet it seems a decision was made that their parents should not be informed until the process was complete.
"There was no explanation of that. Presumably it was for operational reasons in that it made their job easier, but it was not necessarily in our interests."
Despite his concerns, North insists the documents laid to rest many of the conspiracy theories around the shooting.
One of the most persistent was the suggestion that Hamilton received favours from friends in the Central Scotland Police force that enabled him to keep his gun licence.
North said that while Hamilton had friends in the force, the documents he had viewed did not suggest they had provided significant support to him.
One officer acknowledged Hamilton was in the habit of contacting him to "discuss matters he [Hamilton] feels are important" and to inform him where and when his youth camps would take place, but insisted there was no more than that to their relationship.
He added: "One of the most striking things about the documents was the voluminous correspondence Hamilton entered into, particularly with the police. He wrote incessantly to senior officers and to politicians and copied them in on letters to others.
Considerable interest has also centred on the presence of an off-duty police officer at the school at the time of the shootings and about the fact he was never identified or called to give evidence when he played a significant part in the immediate aftermath.
Conspiracy theorists have suggested the police were tipped off that an armed man was heading for the school and that officers were dispatched - and even that Hamilton had not taken his own life but was shot by the police.
North said the truth was far simpler. "There were actually two off-duty officers at the school, simply because they were dropping their own children at the nursery, which didn't start until 9.30am. One of them left and returned home, although he went back almost immediately on hearing there had been an incident to check his child was safe.
"The other officer was elsewhere in the school when he heard the disturbance. Understandably, he went to see what had happened and was one of the first people into the gym.
"He saw the janitor kick a gun lying close to Hamilton's body away from him and called to him not to move anything else as he understood the importance of preserving the scene."
Doubts have also been expressed about the manner of Hamilton's death, but North said the forensic pathologist's report leaves no room for doubt that Hamilton took his own life with a single shot.
It has also been suggested that Hamilton was part of a paedophile ring, supplying his photographs of scantily clad boys to fellow members, and that some might have been police officers. North said the documents contained no evidence of such activity.
North said: "I do realise that some might feel I've fallen hook, line and sinker for the official version of events.
"But having seen the entire collection of files, I believe it would have been impossible to fillet out selected documents so successfully without the gaps becoming obvious to a careful reader. There simply is no evidence of any conspiracy to prevent the truth emerging or to protect any individual."
North, who would have been celebrating Sophie's 15th birthday today, said: "I hope lessons have been learned, about how society should deal with someone in a community who behaves persistently in an alarming manner, and about how a public inquiry should treat those directly involved in a tragedy.
"It was arrogant in the extreme to hide these papers away for 100 years without consulting those of us most closely affected. Our interest did not cease because Lord Cullen had written his report.
"I realise that some questions do remain, but I am satisfied that nothing untoward contributed to that. There seems little point in continuing to bang our heads off a brick wall. It is time to put the matter to rest."
Sunday, 2 October 2005
Sunday, 5 June 2005
05-Jun-2005 - MoS - I BLAME POLICE SEX RING
05-Jun-2005 - MoS - I BLAME POLICE SEX RING
Mail on Sunday 5 June 2005
I blame police sex ring for conspiracy of silence over the Dunblane massacre
by: FIDELMA COOK
Page: 15
Story Text:
POLICE were involved in a paedophile ring that covered up abuse allegations against the man responsible for the Dunblane school massacre, it was claimed last night.
The astonishing claim is being made by former paramedic Sandra Uttley, who is going to the European Court of Human Rights to demand a new inquiry into the tragedy.
Sixteen children and their teacher were shot dead by Thomas Hamilton in March 1996 after he burst into their school gym and fired at random as the youngsters began an exercise class. The attack prompted tighter gun controls in the UK.
Miss Uttley alleges that Lord Cullen's inquiry into the massacre was fatally flawed because crucial evidence was withheld from it.
The 45-year-old, who dealt with the aftermath of the killings in her job as a paramedic, said: 'There are glaring anomalies in the inquiry – inconsistencies in witness testimony, incorrect information given on oath and the absence of vital witnesses.
'It is also blatantly obvious that Central Scotland Police, who were chosen to investigate the background to the murders, should never have been involved in a so-called independent inquiry.
'They were implicated in the events under scrutiny and continually provided Hamilton with renewals of his gun licence despite long-term and repeated warnings that this should not happen. It was known that Hamilton had friends in the police force, including one highly placed officer.
'Lord Cullen read none of the preparatory material before the inquiry. That material has now been sealed and locked away for 100 years despite the public never having had the chance to see those documents.
'I believe that Hamilton was a major provider of pornographic photographs and videos to a ring of men prominent in Central Scotland, including police officers who protected him from numerous allegations of physical abuse at boys' camps and clubs he ran.
They protected themselves after the massacre which conveniently ended in his suicide. Going to Europe is my only hope that the truth will finally be heard. I believe there are more people who should be brought to justice.'
Miss Uttley is asking the court to rule that, as a former Dunblane resident, her rights have been breached because the inquiry was not independent, transparent or effective.
The existence of the secret dossier of evidence which was withheld from the Cullen inquiry was first reported by The Mail on Sunday two years ago. Held at the National Archives in Edinburgh, the 106 documents reveal why prosecutors failed to bring the gunman to court before the massacre despite more than 20 complaints, mostly about his running of sports clubs and a summer camp at Loch Lomond in 1991.
The existence of the report was mentioned at the inquiry but never seen. In fact, Lord Cullen ruled in favour of a motion that the prosecutors who decided not to take legal proceedings against Hamilton should not have to justify their decision.
Among the sealed documents is a report revealing that a senior prosecutor ordered pictures of semi-naked children, seized as evidence before the tragedy, to be returned to Hamilton. Others link the gunman to the Freemasons.
Last year Miss Uttley's former partner, Mick North, whose fiveyearold daughter Sophie was killed by Hamilton, said he was 'convinced' of a cover-up.
Miss Uttley added: 'It is my firm belief that the truth has not come out and there has been a total cover-up to protect a number of people. Europe is my last hope.'
A spokesman for Central Scotland Police said: 'It would be inappropriate for us to make any comment at this time.' Detective Chief Superintendent John Ogg, who headed the Dunblane investigation, has said of criticism in the past: 'I can reassure you that the investigation was absolutely thorough and we covered every angle.'
Miss Uttley has written repeatedly to Lord Cullen demanding explanation to her claims. Most of her letters were
answered by inquiry clerk Glynis McKeand, who said witnesses were selected by the Crown, not by the judge.
Mail on Sunday 5 June 2005
I blame police sex ring for conspiracy of silence over the Dunblane massacre
by: FIDELMA COOK
Page: 15
Story Text:
POLICE were involved in a paedophile ring that covered up abuse allegations against the man responsible for the Dunblane school massacre, it was claimed last night.
The astonishing claim is being made by former paramedic Sandra Uttley, who is going to the European Court of Human Rights to demand a new inquiry into the tragedy.
Sixteen children and their teacher were shot dead by Thomas Hamilton in March 1996 after he burst into their school gym and fired at random as the youngsters began an exercise class. The attack prompted tighter gun controls in the UK.
Miss Uttley alleges that Lord Cullen's inquiry into the massacre was fatally flawed because crucial evidence was withheld from it.
The 45-year-old, who dealt with the aftermath of the killings in her job as a paramedic, said: 'There are glaring anomalies in the inquiry – inconsistencies in witness testimony, incorrect information given on oath and the absence of vital witnesses.
'It is also blatantly obvious that Central Scotland Police, who were chosen to investigate the background to the murders, should never have been involved in a so-called independent inquiry.
'They were implicated in the events under scrutiny and continually provided Hamilton with renewals of his gun licence despite long-term and repeated warnings that this should not happen. It was known that Hamilton had friends in the police force, including one highly placed officer.
'Lord Cullen read none of the preparatory material before the inquiry. That material has now been sealed and locked away for 100 years despite the public never having had the chance to see those documents.
'I believe that Hamilton was a major provider of pornographic photographs and videos to a ring of men prominent in Central Scotland, including police officers who protected him from numerous allegations of physical abuse at boys' camps and clubs he ran.
They protected themselves after the massacre which conveniently ended in his suicide. Going to Europe is my only hope that the truth will finally be heard. I believe there are more people who should be brought to justice.'
Miss Uttley is asking the court to rule that, as a former Dunblane resident, her rights have been breached because the inquiry was not independent, transparent or effective.
The existence of the secret dossier of evidence which was withheld from the Cullen inquiry was first reported by The Mail on Sunday two years ago. Held at the National Archives in Edinburgh, the 106 documents reveal why prosecutors failed to bring the gunman to court before the massacre despite more than 20 complaints, mostly about his running of sports clubs and a summer camp at Loch Lomond in 1991.
The existence of the report was mentioned at the inquiry but never seen. In fact, Lord Cullen ruled in favour of a motion that the prosecutors who decided not to take legal proceedings against Hamilton should not have to justify their decision.
Among the sealed documents is a report revealing that a senior prosecutor ordered pictures of semi-naked children, seized as evidence before the tragedy, to be returned to Hamilton. Others link the gunman to the Freemasons.
Last year Miss Uttley's former partner, Mick North, whose fiveyearold daughter Sophie was killed by Hamilton, said he was 'convinced' of a cover-up.
Miss Uttley added: 'It is my firm belief that the truth has not come out and there has been a total cover-up to protect a number of people. Europe is my last hope.'
A spokesman for Central Scotland Police said: 'It would be inappropriate for us to make any comment at this time.' Detective Chief Superintendent John Ogg, who headed the Dunblane investigation, has said of criticism in the past: 'I can reassure you that the investigation was absolutely thorough and we covered every angle.'
Miss Uttley has written repeatedly to Lord Cullen demanding explanation to her claims. Most of her letters were
answered by inquiry clerk Glynis McKeand, who said witnesses were selected by the Crown, not by the judge.
Sunday, 13 February 2005
13-Feb-2005 - NotW - DUNBLANE PROBE
13-Feb-2005 - NotW - DUNBLANE PROBE
News of the World
Dunblane probe
By: David Leslie
Sunday February 13, 2005
Page: Scotland 6
THE Scottish Executive is facing calls for a fresh probe into the Dunblane tragedy.
Scottish Socialist Party MSP Carolyn Leckie claims the original inquiry presided over by Lord Cullen -was "deeply flawed".
Leckie (right), MSP for Central Scotland, wrote to First Minister Jack McConnell last month.
She told him: "I believe the Cullen Inquiry left many important questions unanswered.
"In view of my belief that it bears the hallmarks of a cover-up, I repeat my call for a new inquiry, without restrictions as to its
scope and remit, into the Dunblane tragedy."
McConnell has now handed the letter to Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson and asked the Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd, to answer a series of questions posed by the MSP.
Leckie's intervention follows a lengthy campaign by former Dunblane ambulance worker Sandra Uttley who claims the Cullen Inquiry hid blunders by police and others in authority who were warned Hamilton was a psychopathic gun nut.
Sandra, 44, said: "I believe that we owe it to the dead children to discover the truth of what happened that day."
It was set up two months after the March 1996 atrocity in which 16 children and their teacher were shot dead by Thomas Hamilton.
The 26-day hearing was told police officers had been warned that Hamilton, 43, bore a grudge against bosses at the quiet Perthshire school after they rejected his attempts to organise boys' clubs.
News of the World
Dunblane probe
By: David Leslie
Sunday February 13, 2005
Page: Scotland 6
THE Scottish Executive is facing calls for a fresh probe into the Dunblane tragedy.
Scottish Socialist Party MSP Carolyn Leckie claims the original inquiry presided over by Lord Cullen -was "deeply flawed".
Leckie (right), MSP for Central Scotland, wrote to First Minister Jack McConnell last month.
She told him: "I believe the Cullen Inquiry left many important questions unanswered.
"In view of my belief that it bears the hallmarks of a cover-up, I repeat my call for a new inquiry, without restrictions as to its
scope and remit, into the Dunblane tragedy."
McConnell has now handed the letter to Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson and asked the Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd, to answer a series of questions posed by the MSP.
Leckie's intervention follows a lengthy campaign by former Dunblane ambulance worker Sandra Uttley who claims the Cullen Inquiry hid blunders by police and others in authority who were warned Hamilton was a psychopathic gun nut.
Sandra, 44, said: "I believe that we owe it to the dead children to discover the truth of what happened that day."
It was set up two months after the March 1996 atrocity in which 16 children and their teacher were shot dead by Thomas Hamilton.
The 26-day hearing was told police officers had been warned that Hamilton, 43, bore a grudge against bosses at the quiet Perthshire school after they rejected his attempts to organise boys' clubs.
Monday, 17 January 2005
17-Jan-2005 - HANSARD - David Heath (Somerton & Frome, LDem)
Back to the Firearms Register
From Hansard 17 Jan 2005
David Heath (Somerton & Frome, LDem)
..I agree, too. The learned society, the British Computer Society, offered to give advice to the Government some years ago—an offer that was refused. Is it possible to take up the offer on behalf of the commission and the National Audit Office, to provide expert advice on the construction of IT projects? Could the Home Office be under continual review in that respect, as it is the author of the most spectacular failures of IT and has still not implemented a requirement of section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 to set up a central register of holders of shotgun and firearms certificates? That was introduced seven years ago and not a single operation or programme has been constructed.
From Hansard 17 Jan 2005
David Heath (Somerton & Frome, LDem)
..I agree, too. The learned society, the British Computer Society, offered to give advice to the Government some years ago—an offer that was refused. Is it possible to take up the offer on behalf of the commission and the National Audit Office, to provide expert advice on the construction of IT projects? Could the Home Office be under continual review in that respect, as it is the author of the most spectacular failures of IT and has still not implemented a requirement of section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 to set up a central register of holders of shotgun and firearms certificates? That was introduced seven years ago and not a single operation or programme has been constructed.
Friday, 26 November 2004
26-Nov-04 - U.K. government hit with another large computer failure
U.K. government hit with another large computer failure
The computer crash is being called the biggest in U.K. government history
News Story by Laura Rohde
NOVEMBER 26, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE)
IT system failures continued to plague the U.K. government this week, when as many as 80,000 civil servants working for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) had to deal with what is being described in the local press as the biggest computer crash in government history.
The DWP was carrying out a "routine software upgrade" on Monday when the system crashed, leaving around 80% of the department's 100,000 desk machines disrupted or completely shut down, a DWP spokeswoman said today. The problems lasted through most of yesterday, but the "majority of our system is up and running now," she said.
Microsoft Corp. and Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) run the DWP's network as part of a $3.8 billion information technology contract.
Microsoft issued a short statement today saying that it worked closely with its partners to help rectify the situation and support the DWP, but declined any further comment. Representatives from EDS could not immediately be reached for comment.
The head of the DWP, government secretary Alan Johnson, has promised an internal inquiry into the systems failure and the role Microsoft and EDS, of Plano, Texas, played in the crisis.
The DWP, which is responsible for providing a variety of state benefits to about 24 million people, attempted to downplay the effect the computer problems will have on its customers, saying that the department's mainframe computers were not affected. "There will be delays with new and amended benefit claims, but we have been dealing with the problems though our contingency plans and the disruptions will be minimal," the DWP spokeswoman said.
It is believed that the crash was caused when an incompatible system was downloaded on to the entire network, forcing employees to send faxes because they couldn't access their e-mail accounts and to fill out some payment checks by hand.
The IT failure was only the latest in a string of serious computer system problems experienced by the department. The DWP's Child Support Agency (CSA) has been struggling with a $863 million system from EDS that has made payments to only one in eight single parents awaiting them. Last week, Johnson told a House of Commons Parliamentary Select Committee that he is considering shutting down the child-support case management and telephony system, and Doug Smith, the head of the CSA, resigned from his job.
Today the general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, Mark Serwotka, called on the government to hold off on its plans to cut 30,000 jobs in the DWP on the basis of IT improvements, in light of the computer crisis. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to eliminate 104,000 civil servant jobs across the government based in part on increased efficiencies gained though new IT systems.
Since 2001, the DWP has spent around $8.04 billion on various IT projects, including the CSA system. According to a report it submitted to a Parliament Select Committee, the department has spent $579 million on management and IT consultancy, $97.4 million on staff substitutions and contractors and $102.7 million on professional services.
The U.K.'s public sector IT projects in 2003 and 2004 are expected to cost more than $23.4 billion, but U.K. government IT projects have often been accused of being over-ambitious and prone to disastrous delays and cost overruns.
Beyond the DWP, further examples include the benefit-payment card program from the Post Office, the Department of Social Security and International Computers Ltd. (ICL), which fell apart after three years and $567 million; software problems that delayed the Swanwick air traffic control center and have since been blamed for a near collision between two airplanes; the disruption wrought on thousands of people with travel plans in 1999 by the Passport Office's new computer system, and the National Probation Service's case-record and management system which was abandoned in 2001 after it was revealed the project was expected to be two years late and 70% over budget.
The computer crash is being called the biggest in U.K. government history
News Story by Laura Rohde
NOVEMBER 26, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE)
IT system failures continued to plague the U.K. government this week, when as many as 80,000 civil servants working for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) had to deal with what is being described in the local press as the biggest computer crash in government history.
The DWP was carrying out a "routine software upgrade" on Monday when the system crashed, leaving around 80% of the department's 100,000 desk machines disrupted or completely shut down, a DWP spokeswoman said today. The problems lasted through most of yesterday, but the "majority of our system is up and running now," she said.
Microsoft Corp. and Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) run the DWP's network as part of a $3.8 billion information technology contract.
Microsoft issued a short statement today saying that it worked closely with its partners to help rectify the situation and support the DWP, but declined any further comment. Representatives from EDS could not immediately be reached for comment.
The head of the DWP, government secretary Alan Johnson, has promised an internal inquiry into the systems failure and the role Microsoft and EDS, of Plano, Texas, played in the crisis.
The DWP, which is responsible for providing a variety of state benefits to about 24 million people, attempted to downplay the effect the computer problems will have on its customers, saying that the department's mainframe computers were not affected. "There will be delays with new and amended benefit claims, but we have been dealing with the problems though our contingency plans and the disruptions will be minimal," the DWP spokeswoman said.
It is believed that the crash was caused when an incompatible system was downloaded on to the entire network, forcing employees to send faxes because they couldn't access their e-mail accounts and to fill out some payment checks by hand.
The IT failure was only the latest in a string of serious computer system problems experienced by the department. The DWP's Child Support Agency (CSA) has been struggling with a $863 million system from EDS that has made payments to only one in eight single parents awaiting them. Last week, Johnson told a House of Commons Parliamentary Select Committee that he is considering shutting down the child-support case management and telephony system, and Doug Smith, the head of the CSA, resigned from his job.
Today the general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, Mark Serwotka, called on the government to hold off on its plans to cut 30,000 jobs in the DWP on the basis of IT improvements, in light of the computer crisis. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to eliminate 104,000 civil servant jobs across the government based in part on increased efficiencies gained though new IT systems.
Since 2001, the DWP has spent around $8.04 billion on various IT projects, including the CSA system. According to a report it submitted to a Parliament Select Committee, the department has spent $579 million on management and IT consultancy, $97.4 million on staff substitutions and contractors and $102.7 million on professional services.
The U.K.'s public sector IT projects in 2003 and 2004 are expected to cost more than $23.4 billion, but U.K. government IT projects have often been accused of being over-ambitious and prone to disastrous delays and cost overruns.
Beyond the DWP, further examples include the benefit-payment card program from the Post Office, the Department of Social Security and International Computers Ltd. (ICL), which fell apart after three years and $567 million; software problems that delayed the Swanwick air traffic control center and have since been blamed for a near collision between two airplanes; the disruption wrought on thousands of people with travel plans in 1999 by the Passport Office's new computer system, and the National Probation Service's case-record and management system which was abandoned in 2001 after it was revealed the project was expected to be two years late and 70% over budget.
Thursday, 11 November 2004
11-Nov-04 - Home Office blames IT trouble for register delays
Home Office blames IT trouble for register delays
Government admits problems revealed by Computing
Parliamentary Correspondent, Computing 11 Nov 2004
The Home Office has admitted 'technical difficulties' are to blame for the latest setback to the much delayed computerised firearms register, as revealed in Computing (Computing 28 October).
The Home Office was criticised heavily last week during a House of Lords debate last week after admitting that the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) will not go live until the New Year, some seven-years after it was recommended.
Computing reported two weeks ago that the system - a searchable register on the Police National Computer - had suffered further problems at the pilot stage.
Home Office minister Lord Rooker admitted in the House of Lords last week that 'unacceptable delays' had plagued the system developed by Anite Public Services. He said they were partly caused by restrictions on resources but claimed this had since been resolved.
Rooker said the pilots highlighted two key disabling difficulties: the system was unable to print firearms certificates and it ran too slowly for police operational services, but said 'those matters are being dealt with'.
Conservative minister Lord Marlesford described the continuing delays, which span seven years, as 'a scandal bordering on an outrage'.
Liberal Democrat Lord McNally said it was totally unacceptable for Rooker to blame technical problems so long after the register was required by law, claiming the Home Office resisted it at the time and is suspected of resisting it still.
The requirement for the register was enacted in the wake of the Dunblane massacre in 1997. An enquiry revealed faults in manual police registration.
Government admits problems revealed by Computing
Parliamentary Correspondent, Computing 11 Nov 2004
The Home Office has admitted 'technical difficulties' are to blame for the latest setback to the much delayed computerised firearms register, as revealed in Computing (Computing 28 October).
The Home Office was criticised heavily last week during a House of Lords debate last week after admitting that the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) will not go live until the New Year, some seven-years after it was recommended.
Computing reported two weeks ago that the system - a searchable register on the Police National Computer - had suffered further problems at the pilot stage.
Home Office minister Lord Rooker admitted in the House of Lords last week that 'unacceptable delays' had plagued the system developed by Anite Public Services. He said they were partly caused by restrictions on resources but claimed this had since been resolved.
Rooker said the pilots highlighted two key disabling difficulties: the system was unable to print firearms certificates and it ran too slowly for police operational services, but said 'those matters are being dealt with'.
Conservative minister Lord Marlesford described the continuing delays, which span seven years, as 'a scandal bordering on an outrage'.
Liberal Democrat Lord McNally said it was totally unacceptable for Rooker to blame technical problems so long after the register was required by law, claiming the Home Office resisted it at the time and is suspected of resisting it still.
The requirement for the register was enacted in the wake of the Dunblane massacre in 1997. An enquiry revealed faults in manual police registration.
Wednesday, 27 October 2004
27-Oct-04 - Firearms database delayed once again
Firearms database delayed once again
Pilot projects highlight slowness of systems and inability to print certificates
Emma Nash, Computing 27 Oct 2004
The much-delayed firearms database has been put on hold once again after problems with the system were identified in pilot tests.
The National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS), a searchable gun register on the police national computer, was recommended seven years ago after the Dunblane massacre, but has suffered numerous delays ever since.
Computing has now learned that shortly after this testing began, Michael Gillespie, head of the Home Office's Public Order and Crime Issues Unit, sent a letter to Police forces throughout England and Wales detailing problems with NFLMS and delayed its general rollout once again.
Home Office Minister Lord Rooker announced the pilot in May 2002, with the full roll-out anticipated in May 2003.
By October of that year, the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), admitted NFLMS will be delayed until at least 2004 following an 'unsuccessful' procurement process.
And in March 2003, it said the system would be live by summer 2004, despite further delays in the procurement process.
Three months ago, Pito said most forces would be expected to migrate by January 2005. But it confirms there have been problems with the system.
'We are working with the supplier to resolve technical issues that arose during the first phase of the National Firearms Licensing Management System pilot testing,' a Pito spokesman told Computing.
'While the testing has shown that the system's functionality works well, the issues detailed in the letter to forces need to be resolved before rollout can begin,' he said.
The main problems concern the system's extremely slow operation, and its inability to print actual firearms license certificates.
PITO says the printing issue has now been resolved, but says it will not confirm new migration or rollout dates until the issues are fully resolved.
Anite Public Sector has developed the technology that will provide the searchable register of all guns on the Police National Computer in Hendon.
'The system supports a very important part of the police business and we to be confident that it is ready before handing it over to the police service to use,' the PITO spokesman said.
The news coincides with publication of Home Office figures last week that show gun crime grew three per cent last year.
Pilot projects highlight slowness of systems and inability to print certificates
Emma Nash, Computing 27 Oct 2004
The much-delayed firearms database has been put on hold once again after problems with the system were identified in pilot tests.
The National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS), a searchable gun register on the police national computer, was recommended seven years ago after the Dunblane massacre, but has suffered numerous delays ever since.
Computing has now learned that shortly after this testing began, Michael Gillespie, head of the Home Office's Public Order and Crime Issues Unit, sent a letter to Police forces throughout England and Wales detailing problems with NFLMS and delayed its general rollout once again.
Home Office Minister Lord Rooker announced the pilot in May 2002, with the full roll-out anticipated in May 2003.
By October of that year, the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), admitted NFLMS will be delayed until at least 2004 following an 'unsuccessful' procurement process.
And in March 2003, it said the system would be live by summer 2004, despite further delays in the procurement process.
Three months ago, Pito said most forces would be expected to migrate by January 2005. But it confirms there have been problems with the system.
'We are working with the supplier to resolve technical issues that arose during the first phase of the National Firearms Licensing Management System pilot testing,' a Pito spokesman told Computing.
'While the testing has shown that the system's functionality works well, the issues detailed in the letter to forces need to be resolved before rollout can begin,' he said.
The main problems concern the system's extremely slow operation, and its inability to print actual firearms license certificates.
PITO says the printing issue has now been resolved, but says it will not confirm new migration or rollout dates until the issues are fully resolved.
Anite Public Sector has developed the technology that will provide the searchable register of all guns on the Police National Computer in Hendon.
'The system supports a very important part of the police business and we to be confident that it is ready before handing it over to the police service to use,' the PITO spokesman said.
The news coincides with publication of Home Office figures last week that show gun crime grew three per cent last year.
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