Chris Huhne on crime statistics
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne called for the Office of National Statistics – rather than the Home Office – to be given direct responsibility for crime figures.
As reported by BBC News. I think he’s probably right. We need to have absolute confidence in our statistics and, even though, as Huhne says, in today’s Guardian Daily, there was no political interference in the statistics, the operation of the media today tends to degrade confidence in anything with the ‘taint’ of politics. Pre-emption of a real scandal on these lines seems like a good idea.
xD.
October 26th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Office of National Statistics – is that to become the new Ministry of Truth?
October 27th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Glad you think so too Dave!
October 27th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
James,
To be honest, that depends entirely on you. Sunlight, as they say, is the best disinfectant. In order to avoid perceptions of a ‘Ministry of Truth’, statistics must be seen to be transparent. Part of that is moving them away from the possibility of political interference – as Huhne said and I believe, there wasn’t any in this instance – and part of it is the public (including bloggers) keeping an eye on them. That is a good way of stopping the press from throwing mud.
Joel,
Yes, I think he’s right on that one.
xD.
October 27th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Just hope it transpires that way, Dave. Past history is not favourable.
October 27th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
The ONS is run by the Govt. It is not independent.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:37 am
No it isn’t. From the ONS website:
xD.
October 29th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Fair enough but nevertheless not all Govt stats are under its remit and Govt ministers see its data long before the public.