Police fail to detect own super software

POLICE have had access to computer software that can pinpoint serious criminals for nearly 10 years – but hardly any know it exists.

The Arena system can sift through financial data and has been used to find a money launderer living on a council estate and the drug kingpins behind a street-level dealer.

Yet, it is not widely used in investigations, a police chief has warned.

Forces are routinely sent information by banks, estate agents, car dealers, auction houses and other industries through Suspicious Activity Reports (SARS) – produced if they believe a transaction could be linked to criminality or terrorism.

The SARS database holds personal and financial information not usually held by police, including copies of passports and details of transactions.

In 2018, 400,000 SARS were submitted and the database now totals more than two million – but only a fraction have been investigated, says Michael Beattie, financial crime coordinator for the National Police Chiefs Council.

He and his team found that Arena, bought by the National Crime Agency in 2010, can be used to filter SARS data with extraordinary results. They now want the system to be used more widely by forces across the UK.

Investigators can ask for SARS data on known or suspected paedophiles to see if they are involved in transactions including dark web activity.

In one case, a south London council estate suspected of harbouring crack houses was searched for households with more than £65,000 going into a bank. One of 12 identified was occupied by a single woman on benefits.

Investigation found she was buying gold bullion to launder cash for her sister’s drug dealer partner.

In another case a man was found slumped in a car with crystal meth. He was linked to a known street drug dealer and both were charged.

But Arena was used to link the pair to a £17million cocaine ring.

Mr Beattie said: “It would have stopped at an OK result, but Arena took it to another level – and all from someone slumped at a steering wheel.”

An NCA spokeswoman said: “SARS are a fantastic intelligence tool, providing valuable information in relation to suspected money laundering and terrorist financing.

“We are taking steps to drive up their use in law enforcement.”

‘Arena took case to another level’