THE STRATHCLYDE POLICE DEPARTMENT INITIALLY FOLLOWED THE PREVAILING TREND IN THE DESIGN OF POLICE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, I.E., THE BATCH PROCESSING OF OPERATIONAL DATA COLLECTED BY A DEPARTMENT'S COMPUTERIZED COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM ON A LARGER PROCESSOR, USUALLY OWNED BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITY. WHEN SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT PROVED UNSATISFACTORY, HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT DEVELOPED ITS OWN INHOUSE SYSTEM, WHICH PROVIDES MANAGEMENT INFORMATION TO ALL MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY RANKS THROUGHOUT THE FORCE'S 15 DIVISIONS. THE SYSTEM'S PROGRAMS WERE DEVELOPED PRIMARILY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS OF OPERATIONAL OFFICERS. THE SYSTEM PROVIDES 32 MANAGEMENT REPORTS ON A DAILY, PERIODIC, AND REQUEST BASIS TO A WIDE RANGE OF USERS. STRATHCLYDE'S SYSTEM IS SAID TO ILLUSTRATE THE UTILITY THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED FROM A DEDICATED SYSTEM ONCE OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN GAINED. THE ECONOMIC AND OTHER ADVANTAGES OF THE INHOUSE APPROACH BRING INTO QUESTION THE NECESSITY OF PLACING THE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION PRODUCTION FUNCTION WITH AN OUTSIDE AGENCY. THE BACKGROUND OF THE STRATHCLYDE SYSTEM, SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, AND THE REPORTS PRODUCED BY THE SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED. ILLUSTRATIONS ACCOMPANY THE ARTICLE. (LKM)