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Information Sharing

Information Sharing Network

Introduction

Confident and effective exchange of data is the key to multi-agency working in any sphere. The Government is keen that agencies should share data in a proper manner, where this may contribute to reductions in crime & disorder.

To support Crime & Disorder Partnerships, the Home Office in close liaison with the Information Commissioner is keen to assist partnerships in overcoming perceived barriers to effective information exchange and to provide advice and guidance on ‘best practice’ to practitioners. A number of effective information sharing based initiatives have been established, but with some 376 partnerships in England and Wales, a considerable amount work has still to be done to bring greater consistency to information-sharing activities.

With this objective, we have established an information-sharing network to assist both practitioners and partnerships with information and data exchange issues. We believe that there is much we can learn from each other and that the network approach is ideally suited to encouraging and supporting effective partnership working. We have in excess of 160 registered members.

Aims

To promote closer unity between crime reduction practitioners and partners.
To provide support and give advice to all members.
To advise and inform agencies of the need to share personal and non-personal information for Crime & Disorder purposes in a proper manner.
To promote consistency in the establishment of information sharing arrangements across England & Wales.
To formulate and disseminate good practice on information sharing and data exchange in the context of Crime & Disorder Partnerships.
To benchmark information sharing and further develop good practice for specific types of crime reduction activity.
To inform members of the latest developments in the field and to update them.
To facilitate the development of local information sharing protocols.

Membership

Membership of the network is open to crime reduction practitioners from across England & Wales, with an interest in information sharing, for partnership purposes. We are particularly keen to engage:

Police Officers
Community Safety Officers
Drug Action Team Members
Youth Offending Team Members
Probation Officers
Health Trusts
Voluntary Organisations
Local Authorities
Educational Establishments
Registered Social Landlords
Business
Members of Community Groups
And others with a serious interest in information sharing for crime reduction purposes or responsibility for data protection issues.

If you would like to join the network, please complete and submit the ‘on-line’ form or alternatively print off the form and return it to the address given below.

Activities

The Network was formally launched by Crime Reduction Minister John Denham, at a dedicated "Information Sharing" National Conference on Monday 10 September 2001. A report of the conference has been published and is available here.

Relevant information, guidance notes, updates and a periodic newsletter, are in the process of being distributed to members, highlighting ‘best practice’ and important developments in the field.

Members have been invited to participate in small benchmarking groups to identify relevant legislative considerations, information/data sources and potential partners in specific areas of crime reduction activity.

Cost

Membership of the network is currently free. Although the National Conference on "Information Sharing" on Monday 10 September 2001 was free, a small fee to cover administrative costs may be required from those who attend future events.

For Further Information

Contact:

Information Sharing & Data Exchange Action Against Crime & Disorder Unit Room 501 Home Office 50 Queen Anne’s Gate London SW1H 9AT Tel: 020 7273 2179 Fax: 020 7273 2703 E-mail: information.sharing@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Date modified: July 2003
Review date: July 2004
Originator: Home Office Action Against Crime & Disorder Unit