Jennifer Rubin to Ed Humpherson: use of National Referral Mechanism statistics

Jennifer Rubin responds to Ed Humpherson following concerns raised with OSR by users of the Home Office’s National Referral Mechanism statistics about claims that people are “gaming” the modern slavery system.

Published:

Sent from: Home Office

Sent to: Office for Statistics Regulation

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Dear Ed,

Thank you for your letter of 8 December 2022.

I am glad that you highlighted this issue. I strongly agree that it is important to ensure all statistics (including the National Referral Mechanism statistics) are properly used by all within the Home Office. As a Department we are committed to the transparency and credibility of statistics. The Deputy Director responsible for the publication of the NRM statistics has recently written to the policy and communications Deputy Directors to encourage them to ensure claims made in public statements are sourced from published statistics or other reliable evidence. My team will continue to work with policy and communications colleagues, including through the process we have agreed whereby analytical teams check any statements that include statistics or data, to minimise the risk of using statistics inappropriately.

I am copying this letter to Simon Palmer, Tom Bucke, Jon Simmons and Amy Baxter.

Yours sincerely,
Professor Jennifer Rubin

 

Related Links:

Mark Pont to John Marais: Statistics on modern slavery in the UK (March 2023)