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The importance of ethics and privacy in producing statistics for the public good

Statistically Speaking
August 22, 2022

Categories: Data, ONS, UK Statistics Authority

At a time of exponential growth in data of all kinds, the potential for data science to improve public services and achieve better health outcomes has never been greater. But we also have a responsibility to ensure that those data are used ethically and protect individual privacy. Starting with the UK parliament’s objective for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to produce and publish statistics for the public good, the latest episode of ‘Statistically Speaking’ explores how this is being delivered in practice, while looking at the safeguards in place to protect personal data, and the public’s changing perception of acceptable data use.

How many people died in the UK’s recent heatwave?

Sarah Caul
August 1, 2022

Categories: Data, Office for National Statistics, ONS, UK Statistics Authority

An old fashioned clock face style thermometer on a building in the South of the UK in 2022 showing 40 degrees Celsius as Britain experiences unprecedented record temperatures

This seems a simple and reasonable query to put to the ONS and, after the record heatwave in July, it…

A better understanding of the scale of domestic abuse during the pandemic

Meghan Elkin
July 21, 2022

Categories: Crime, Data, Office for Statistics Regulation, Population, UK Statistics Authority

Pictured is a victim of domestic violence

The Office for National Statistics has been working to bring together data sources to provide the best understanding of the scale of domestic abuse, sexual offences and violence against women and girls. However, the impact of the pandemic on survey collection has meant a data gap in understanding the sheer prevalence of these crimes. The ONS has now published its first estimates of domestic abuse and sexual assault in two years. Meghan Elkin explains why a note of caution should be taken in interpreting these statistics.