Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell and the Yorkshire Ripper Investigation
11th July 1977
The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, Mr. Gregory, wrote to the Director of the Police Scientific Development Branch asking whether the Branch was able to offer any assistance in connection with the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry.
Mr. Holt, a senior scientist with the Branch, visited the force and, after looking at the way in which the investigation was being conducted, reported to the Chief Constable that computerisation of various incident room records was feasible.
Mr. Holt discovered that spare computer capacity was available at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell and that the conversion of existing records could be undertaken by the Joint Automated Data Processing Unit at a cost of £25,000.
Once operational the system could have been maintained at an annual cost of £156,000.
This offer was not taken up by the Chief Constable.
