NCJ Number
203411
Journal
Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: 2003 Pages: 7-14
Date Published
2003
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper provides an overview of the legal issues pertinent to data-sharing among partnership agencies involved in local crime reduction in Great Britain and discusses the limitations of data-sharing, best practice, and the potential consequences of lowering barriers to information exchange.
Abstract
Britain's Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (CDA) emphasizes the importance of partnerships in implementing public safety policy. A critical issue in the effectiveness of such partnerships is the sharing of data that is relevant to the common mission of the partnership. Differences in data-sharing practices across Crime and Disorder Reduction partnerships limits good practice based on local data-sharing agreements. There are no laws against the exchange of nonpersonal data among agencies engaged in public safety enterprises, and one section of the CDA allows the disclosure of personal information to the police, local authorities, probation committees, and health authorities for any legitimate activity associated with the reduction of crime. Prompt case-by-case exchange of personal information about actual and potential crime victims between local authorities and the police is essential. There must be limitations on data-sharing, however, so as to promote good practice and enforce compliance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998, which is designed to ensure that personal data are managed and used properly. This article profiles Project Jupiter as an example of "best practice" in the collection and sharing of data at the local level among multiple agencies such as the police, councils, health, ambulance, fire, and probation services. The article also discusses which data should be exchanged and with whom, as well as who needs to know what and why. 4 references