It allows information to be recorded in different formats and provides modules for the management of documents, exhibits, actions, disclosure and case preparation.  Incidents can be linked within and across police forces for the co-ordination of enquiries. 

The Casualty Bureau function provides a means for searching and creating records for missing persons, casualties and survivors and the identification of potential matches.

A web enabled front end (CasWeb) allows the police to provide a call-taking and data-entry facility to assists with a high profile crime enquiry or a major disaster through a procedure known as 'mutual aid'.  CasWeb allows mutual aid forces to create, search and update records (missing persons, callers, survivors and casualties) and record messages on the host force's system. 

A National Mutual Aid Telephony service (NMAT), also managed within the HOLMES 2 product area, provides the means to direct calls from the public to a single 0800 or 0207 number to forces.

Current status

The current supported versions are Versions 12 and 13.  Version 12, released in September 2007 includes improvements to the way incident linking works and allows Free Format documentation to be stored on HOLMES 2. 

Version 13, released in August 2008, provides an enhanced Tags module that enables major investigations to organise records more effectively with an enhanced database query module for more powerful searching options.

Holmes 2020 will replace HOLMES 2 when the contract, currently being extended until September 2011 expires.

Who's using it?

It is used by every police force in the UK as well as other police organisations such as the Ministry of Defence Police (MoDP), the British Transport Police (BTP) and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

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Benefits

• Improved management of the investigation through the professionalised Major Investigation Room - with improved ability to research cases, greater inter-force co-operation, more effective use of officers time, increased ability to establish lines of enquiry
• Improved probability of securing a conviction through improved direction, control and accountability of the investigation
• Improved management of the evidence and case file preparation.
• Improved ability to manage large scale disasters through improved collation of MIspers, Casualties, Survivors and Evacuees
  [taken from the HOLMES 2 Benefits Review Jan 2007]
  

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The Role of NPIA

NPIA is responsible for the Product Management of HOLMES 2 and its related products and for the Holmes 2020 Project.  This involves defining, ordering, testing and signing off new releases.  There is a strong liaison role provided by a Detective Superintendent and Detective Sergeant who support the user community and provide operational advice to forces in the running of HOLMES 2.

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Background

The supplier, Unisys, received final accreditation in 2001 and two versions have been released each year since, providing additional functionality as requested. HOLMES 2 functionality enables incidents to be managed in line with the Major Incident Standard Administrative Procedures (MIRSAP) and Casualty Bureau Standard Administrative Procedures (CBSAP), produced by the National Policing Improvement Agency on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland ACPO(S).

After accreditation roll-out across all forces in the UK was complete by April 2003.  CasWeb went live in May 2003.  MIRWeb, an enhancement of CasWeb was added in June 2005. It uses the same architecture as CasWeb and provides forces with a mutual aid facility for taking telephone messages from the public during a high profile murder enquiry. Both CasWeb and MIRWeb have continued to be enhanced in subsequent versions.

NMAT was developed by NPIA working with Cable & Wireless and the Police Community and was launched on 1 December 2006.
 
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