The Home Office today announced work to connect Northern Ireland’s criminal records to the rest of the UK has been completed.

It means all criminal records and associated fingerprints can be searched via a national system by Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) and all other UK forces for the first time.

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said:

Linking Northern Ireland’s criminal records to the rest of the UK will assist the police in their fight against crime and improve public protection.

It will also enhance our counter-terrorism capability and further strengthen the UK’s borders.

The link project meets recommendations made on the management of criminality information by Lord Bichard, Sir Ian Magee and Sunita Mason CBE.