Local level data sources

The Audit Commission report “Crossing Borders: understanding the changes” (January 2007)  suggests that in order to better understand what is happening in local communities, intelligence from a variety of sources should be utilised. This report suggests that data can be obtained from major employers, recruitment agencies, police records on the use of interpreters, front line staff who deal with the public, local libraries, voluntary and faith organisations, charities and existing relevant community groups.

Additionally, local areas could consider the possible use of:

• the electoral register;
• council tax records;
• data from doctors’ surgeries;
• data collected by social housing providers; for example data from equality monitoring and tenant profiling;
• police data on hate incidents and crimes;
• police and Local Authority data on Anti Social Behaviour;
• voluntary sector data; and
• surveys on community views of the area and quality of life issues.

There have been a number of case studies undertaken which examine the possible use of local level data sources, though these are mainly in the context of migration/improving population estimates:

• Welsh Assembly Government commissioned research ‘Measuring the social impact of migration at Local Authority level’ (2008):
• ONS Local Authority Case Study Report for Hammersmith and Fulham (2007):
• ONS Local Authority Case Study Report for Barnet (2007):
• ONS Local Authority Case Study Report for Derby (2007):
• Accurate information within a rapidly changing economic climate needs to be timely if it is to be used to respond effectively to changing circumstances.

There are a number of guidance documents for local areas to consider on the sharing of information relating to their communities to meet this challenge at a local level. Some of the relevant documents on information sharing are referenced below. The list is not exhaustive:

• Framework code of practice for sharing personal information, published by the Information Commissioners Office (2007):
• This framework code can be used by organisations that want to produce their own codes of practice for sharing information. It says what content a code of practice should have if it is to support good practice in the sharing of personal information. Organisations using the framework code must fill it in with their own detailed content, reflecting their own business needs. Where a number of organisations are working collaboratively on an information sharing project, it is important that any codes of practice do not contradict each other or overlap confusingly. It can be used to develop a single code of practice that all the organisations involved in the information sharing work to;
• Information Sharing Vision Statement published by HM Government (2006) : This statement highlights that the UK Government is committed to more information sharing between public sector organisations and service providers. It sets out a vision for better, more customer-focused services supported by greater information sharing which will protect and support individuals and society as a whole;
• Data Sharing Review (2008)  This review was undertaken by Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, and Dr Mark Walport, the Director of the Wellcome Trust. The report looks at data-sharing policy and how it should be developed to ensure proper transparency, scrutiny and accountability and includes a chapter on how to share personal information.