Official Statistics

The Statistics & Registration Service Act 2007 was introduced on 1st April 2008 with the aim of enhancing levels of public confidence in official statistics. As a result the UK Statistics Authority was formed as an independent, non-ministerial government department directly accountable to Parliament. Its statutory objective is to promote and safeguard the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good.

The provisions of the Statistics & Registration Service Act also apply to Northern Ireland as do the powers of the UK Statistics Authority. In January 2009 the UK Statistics Authority published the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The Code builds on, and supersedes, the former National Statistics Code of Practice. Official Statistics that comply with the Code are designated as National Statistics. Compliance with the Code is a statutory requirement on bodies that produce statistics that have already been designated as National Statistics.

The UK Statistics Authority will monitor the production and publication of official statistics in Northern Ireland and report any concerns to those responsible for them. Official Statistics which Northern Ireland Departments wish to see assigned as National Statistics will be assessed against the new Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

National Statistics

National Statistics stand for relevance, quality, integrity and freedom from political interference. They provide an up-to-date, comprehensive and meaningful description of the UK´s economy and society. National Statistics covers government data produced to the high professional principles and standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Official Statistics & PSNI

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is listed in The Official Statistics Order 2009 as a producer of official statistics and is therefore subject to the Statistics & Registration Act 2007. Statisticians from the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency are seconded to the PSNI and are responsible for ensuring that the statistics they produce comply with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

The PSNI currently has 3 National Statistics (awaiting assessment by the UK Statistics Authority):

1. Recorded crime and clearances statistics

2. Injury road traffic collision statistics

3. Statistics on the security situation

Please click on the relevant sections below for further information

• Pre-release access to Official Statistics (PDF, 35.7 KB)