Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

ACCESS LIST

A register specific to a project where personal information is shared logging the authorised access to the information.

AGENCIES

Those signatories party to this Protocol which for the time being are prescribed by order of the Secretary of State under a duty to formulate and implement crime and disorder strategies in compliance with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

AGGREGATE DATA

Data that consists of statistics of events forming a trend or pattern but from which it is not possible to identify individuals.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Acting in a manner which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household.

AUDIT TRAIL

A process of collating data for the purpose of identifying and refining internal procedures of partner agencies, by means of examination of all documentation kept on the information exchange.

BULK TRANSFER

The disclosure of a quantity/set of identifiable personal data, for the purpose of a criminal investigation/ crime and disorder initiative.

COMMON LAW

The principle underlying all criminal-related work is the common law duty of confidentiality owed to the public. This requires that personal information given for one purpose cannot be used for another, and places restrictions on the disclosure of that information. This duty can only be broken if the public interest requires it. Statutory provisions on disclosure override common law provisions.

COMMUNITY SAFETY MANAGEMENT GROUP

A multi-agency group that manages the practical development and implementation of the crime & disorder strategy.

CONSENT

Agreement, either expressed or implied, to an action based on knowledge of what that action involves, its likely consequences and the option of saying no.

EXPRESS CONSENT

Consent which is expressed orally, or in writing, (except where patients cannot write or speak, when other forms of communication would need to be considered.)

CRIME

Any act, default, or conduct prejudicial to the community, the commission of which by law, renders the person responsible liable to punishment by fine, imprisonment or other penalty.

CRIME AND DISORDER ACT 1998

The purpose of the Act is to tackle crime and disorder and help create safer communities. It requires the police and local authorities in partnership with the community, to establish a local partnership to cut crime. This partnership must conduct an audit to identify the types of crime in the area and develop a strategy for tackling them.

CRIME AUDIT

A process of collating statistical data from lawful sources to identify trends or patterns in crime and disorder in order to formulate strategies and projects to disrupt and negate criminal and anti-social behaviour.

CRIME MAPPING

This is the process of combining data resources and the use of different types of data, to create a more accurate or clear picture of what is going on in the area.

DATA

Essentially the same as "information," but tends to be information recorded in a form, which can be processed by equipment automatically (usually electronically although manual records may also be kept), in response to specific instructions.

DATA IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN

Any information which is publicly available, whether it relates to a living individual or not. For example, Information found on the internet, television or local authority records.

DATA CONTROLLER

This is the individual or partner who is responsible for complying with the eight Data Protection principles, as set-out in the Data Protection Act 1998. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that the data is securely stored.

DATA PROCESSING

This term is used to describe the collecting, handling, sanitising, transferring and storing of all types of data.

DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998

A major piece of legislation, which regulates the processing of personal data. It embodies the eight basic principles of data processing, and gives guidance on data sharing.

DATA SHARING (EXCHANGE)

The physical exchange of data between one or more individuals or agencies; this is data recorded in an electronic or processing form. For example, this usually involves the transfer of a data set to a partner agency.

DATA SUBJECT

An individual who is the subject of personal data.

DE-PERSONALISED DATA

This is information where any reference to or means of identifying a living individual has been removed or “sanitised.”

DESIGNATED OFFICER

A person nominated by the agency of sufficient standing, to process or initiate requests for personal information and data. [Health Authority representatives may refer to them as “Caldicott Guardians”].

PRIMARY DESIGNATED OFFICER

As Designated Officer, only the most senior member of the information sharing party in the partnership.

DISORDER

Refers to the level or pattern of anti-social behaviour within a certain area.

EDUCATION ACTION ZONE

Geographical area identified as being beneficiary of government funding, providing local businesses contribute a set amount for precise education needs

FORMAL REQUEST

A written request by the Designated Officer for personal  information made to the information holder.

HEALTH ACTION ZONE

Geographic area identified as being beneficiaries of government funding to address significant health inequalities.

HOT SPOT AREAS

These are geographic areas of focus, where there is a disproportionately above average incidence of criminal activity.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998

This Act requires the compliance to Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This prohibits interference with the right to respect for private and family life except when it is in accordance with the law, and pursues a legitimate public interest in a proportionate manner.

INDEMNITY

Parties may seek to indemnify themselves against eventual legal action or litigation for compensation for damage or distress under the relevant legislation.

INDIVIDUAL

A person not being covered by the definition of an agency, but who has assumed or has been invited by the agencies to assume a role in the project which is the object of this Protocol.

INFORMATION

This is essentially the passing of knowledge from one party to another in this Protocol.

INFORMATION OBTAINED FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS

Refers to administrative and survey data. Used within the NS framework.

INFORMATION SHARING (EXCHANGE)

Involves a physical exchange of data between one or more individuals or agencies.

INTELLIGENCE

This is the end product of a process by which that information is checked and compared with other information and is then used to inform decision-making.

LOCAL POLICING UNIT

An area covered by one police station.

MAINSTREAMING

To provide services as part of the usual business of an organisation, rather than as a short-term project or initiative.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Essentially, another term for Protocol.

META-DATA

This is essentially data about data. This is a process of making the finding of a resource more efficient, by providing a structure of defined elements that describe or catalogue the resource. It should also provide details as to how the elements are used.

NON-DOMESTIC BURGLARY

All burglary that does not occur in a residential property. Includes burglary against sheds and garages, public buildings, commercial property.

NON-PERSONAL INFORMATION

Any information which does not or cannot be used to establish the identity of a living individual.

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

Tool to measure the success/failure of an objective

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Information which relates to a living individual who can be identified from the data or any other information which is in the possession of the data holder. This is the most restricted type of information and should only be used where there is no reasonable alternative.

PERSONAL INFORMATION REQUEST FORM (PIRF)

A form requesting the disclosure of personal information from the information holder.

PROJECT

A planned and co-operative activity undertaken by agencies and individuals to disrupt and negate criminal and antisocial behaviour according to the precepts of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

PROJECT CHRONOLOGY

A register specific to a project where each agency logs its involvement in the information sharing process and the security arrangements.

PROJECT FILE

A file to be kept by each partner agency containing all the personal information and documentation relevant to the information sharing process for the project.

PROJECT GROUP

Individuals and agency representatives formed into a group to manage a project.

PROJECT MEETING

Meeting of the project group, to discuss the project.

PROTOCOL CO-ORDINATION FOLDER

To be held by each partner agency giving an overview of its information sharing arrangements and all projects in which it is involved.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Information is judged to be in the public domain when it is so generally accessible that it can no longer be regarded as confidential.

RECORDED OBJECTIVES

The objectives formulated, outlined and agreed in an  initiation document by the agencies as the beginning of a project under this Protocol.

RELEVANT AUTHORITIES

Any of these bodies or persons referred to in Section  115 (2) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and described in detail in section 5 (1), (2), and (3).

REVIEW

Periodic review of data exchanged for the purposes of the project including review of the scope, relevance and accuracy of disclosed data; a review process which shall be defined at the time of the project initiation.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Carried out to establish whether the subject is likely to commit serious, physical, psychological harm to others.

RISK MANAGEMENT

A plan to reduce, manage or eliminate the risk. The components may include treatment, supervision, incapacitation, disclosure.

RISK SCREENING

The initial process of confirming information. The degree of likelihood and gravity of consequences of future behaviour.

SMART

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic with a Timetable.

SCOPING

Liaison between partner agencies, before a formal request is made, to define the problem and identify information holders.

TRIGGER EVENT

Information received by an agency that indicates an individual may constitute a risk of harm. Or which viewed together with other information, leads to that view.

TWOC

Taking a car without the owner’s consent.

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