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Police: Statistics

Answer

The planning, production and presentation of Home Office national statistics outputs is directly managed by the Home Office Chief Statistician, who as Head of Profession for statistics in the Home Office is directly answerable for professional matters to the National Statistician (who is Head of the Government Statistical Service and is chief executive of the Office for National Statistics).Performance information used by the department is in most cases based on these national statistics sources as well as other relevant management information. There is a well developed process of consultation with stakeholders both with respect to the Annual Data Requirement for the police and statutory performance indicators used in assessing police performance.Similar arrangements apply in the Ministry of Justice which is responsible for statistics on probation and prison. National statistics within the Home Office, and across the Government Statistical Service as a whole, are produced in conformance with the National Statistics Code of Practice and its 12 supporting Protocols. These set out all the professional standards which official statistics must meet including those relating to the planning, production and presentation of statistical information. The Home Office's statement of compliance with the Code and Protocols can be accessed at:"www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/statsprog1.html"The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) began operating on 1 April 2008 as a statutory independent body reporting directly to parliament. This body not only has executive control over the Office for National Statistics, but also has oversight of all UK official statistics. It will conduct a comprehensive programme of assessment of national statistics against a revised code of practice that it is now in the process of being developed. The UKSA also has established the new Publication Hub live from 1 April on www.statistics.gov.uk, which will be a one-stop shop for first releases of national statistics, providing statistics which are accessible, clear, and free from political commentary. The existing code of practice can also be downloaded at:"www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/cop"

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

474 c2348-9W; 198471

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Home Office Statistics Standards

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk