Introduction to Information Sharing

The aim of this component of the toolkit is to provide a framework of guidance designed to assist agencies in establishing effective information sharing arrangements to support local crime and disorder partnerships and enable them to implement the requirements of the Crime & Disorder Act 1998.

Whilst we can outline the tools which will facilitate this, we cannot provide advice on how to apply them and in what situations. Agencies should therefore seek the advice of their own legal advisers where there is doubt or a risk of legal challenge.

The Government is supporting Crime & Disorder Partnerships in developing robust community safety strategies and action plans, which are:

• Responsive to community concerns: partnerships are encouraged to develop strategies in consultation with local communities.
• Evidence-based and led: an audit is important in providing a clear understanding the crime and anti-social behaviour problems in an area. Information enables partnerships to prioritise and choose which problems to tackle and to regularly monitor improvement. In designing solutions to these problems, emphasis is placed on methods that have reliably been shown to work in similar contexts or- where this not available – on sound principles.
• Outcome focused: partnerships are encouraged to set clear targets and monitor and evaluate the outcomes of their work, and adjust their interventions in the light of all the information, they gather.

This toolkit is part of an extensive programme being put in place to support partnerships to achieve reductions in crime and disorder. It offers practical advice and guidance on how partnerships together with stakeholders and their communities can:

• Identify local problems
• Determine local action
• Implement local action
• Assess local action

The specific aims of the information-sharing element of this toolkit are:

• general principles of information/data sharing
• Clarify who can exchange information in the context of the Crime & Disorder Act.
• Provide practical advice to partnerships on the need to share information.
• Outline basic legal considerations, which need to be taken into account, when exchanging information. Including

obtaining consent and privacy issues
the common law duty of confidentiality
the Data Protection Act 1998
the Human Rights Act 1998
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Other legislation – legal restrictions and gateways

• Facilitate the development of information sharing protocols by Crime and Disorder partners.
• Provide Guidance on good practice and the managerial/organisational arrangements, which need to be established.
• Outline potential sources of other useful information for partnerships.
• Highlight technical and other developments, which may assist partnerships in pursuing their objectives, both now and in the future.