Crime statistics data extracted for FOI requests

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.25.042468

I note you seek access to the following information:

How does the Metropolitan Police extract crime statistics data for FOI requests

Do you use Microsoft PowerBi
If so, can I get a redacted screenshot of your interface?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

The Met has two crime recording systems:

Crime Report Information System (CRIS)
The CRIS was the Met’s crime recording system until the 27 February 2024. The MPS use a ‘SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence’ tool to interrogate and extract data from the CRIS for FOI requests.

CONNECT
CONNECT is a system used nationally by a number of police services and replaced the CRIS within the MPS on the 28 February 2024. CONNECT is an integrated policing solution from which intelligence, investigations, custody and other policing functions are managed. CONNECT is a POLE (person, object, location, event) database where entities are linked to each other. It has limited front end search and data download functions which we use for some FOI requests. All fields are searchable but there are limits in how the data output can be presented.

The MPS use MS SQL Server Management Studio to gain back end access to both the CRIS and CONNECT systems through a locally-built data warehouse known as DataMart. CRIS and CONNECT are two very different systems so not all fields or values have equivalency across both systems. DataMart is a feed of data tables from both systems so that one set of data can be extracted across both of them where there is equivalency in fields and values. Not all tables or fields from the CRIS and CONNECT systems are present in the DataMart feed but the most frequently used ones are.

Therefore, for each FOI request, analysts assess which is the best system to use to answer the question as fully as possible. On occasions, staff processing requests for information refer applicants to publicly available datasets.

The MPS does not use Microsoft PowerBi to extract crime statistics data for FOI requests.

DUTY TO ADVISE AND ASSIST
Under Section 16 of the Act, there is a duty to advise and assist those that have made a request for information. In accordance with this duty, I can confirm that the MPS publishes information about various types of crime on its website. I have provided a link to this information below.

MPS Website: Stats and Data

Additionally, it may assist you to note that the MPS proactively publishes all disclosures made in response to requests made under the Act on its Publication Scheme. I have provided a link to this section of the MPS website below.

MPS Website: Publication Scheme

The MPS Publication Scheme can be searched using keywords and may accordingly hold other information that is of interest to you.