Police force receives £40M in funding for a critical phase of their pension database overhaul at Whitehall
The Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS) project, a replacement for the long-standing Police National Computer (PNC), is currently rated amber for delivery on Whitehall's 2025 project tracker. Despite an improvement in delivery confidence since 2021, the project remains large, complex, and high-risk.
The PNC, designated as critical national infrastructure, has been in operation for over 50 years. It houses data on approximately 13 million people, 62.6 million vehicles, and 58.5 million drivers. One of the key components of the LEDS project is the Person Product, which is crucial for the decommissioning of the PNC.
The total cost for the LEDS project is now expected to exceed £1 billion. In September 2025, the Home Office awarded a direct £37.5 million contract to PA Consulting for a period of 11 months, from September 19, 2025, to August 31, 2026. The contract covers managed, engineering, and support services for the LEDS "Person Update" product.
However, the government has not disclosed the name of the private contractor awarded for the "Person Update" product of the LEDS project in September 2025. The search results do not specify the name of this organisation.
The LEDS project, initially estimated at £900 million and with a planned completion date of March 2026, continues to be a significant undertaking. Despite the challenges, the improvement in delivery confidence offers a glimmer of hope for a successful conclusion to this 12-year project.
