16.04.13
Manchester hospitals and police join forces on data
A new initiative is being launched in Manchester today to improve the sharing of data to prevent violent crime.
The system will link data from hospitals, local authorities and the police to support preventative policy and activity. Information from all A&E departments will help to build a more complete picture of violent crime at home and on the street.
The programme will be rolled out by December, with a platform in place to interpret and distribute the data to relevant parties.
Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said: “Greater Manchester Police do not get a complete picture of violence in our communities from the 999 calls made by the public.
“As research has consistently shown, information from health partners is vital to a more rounded picture, and if this project succeeds it will help make us much better-equipped to target our resources in neighbourhoods with the greatest need, and work better with other agencies to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities.”
Mike Burrows, chief executive of NHS Greater Manchester, said: “Hospitals have an important role to play in sharing anonymised information to support violence prevention in the community.
“We therefore welcome this project, which – using no more data than is already collected – will help the NHS support a range of national and local priorities, not least in relation to reducing the number of knife wound and gunshot attendances we see across Greater Manchester’s Emergency Departments.”
Steven Pleasant, chief executive of Tameside Council and Greater Manchester’s lead chief executive on health, said: “This is a timely and valuable project that directly supports local authority-led work to improve the health and well-being of Greater Manchester’s residents.
“This is about how we better integrate evidence on shared public health priorities, like reducing domestic abuse, safeguarding children and tackling the harm caused by binge drinking.”
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