Information Sharing
Avon and Somerset Police work with partner agencies to develop policing services which helps meet our service objectives and the Police and Crime Plan priorities.
Sharing information about individuals is essential in enabling us to work effectively together. However, we have a duty to ensure we only share information where necessary and have a legal reason to do so.
Where regular sharing arrangements are required between us and partner agencies, these will be under an information sharing agreement.
How we share information
Within Avon and Somerset Police we have adopted a standard Overarching Information Sharing Agreement (OISA) which operates a two tier process.
As we often have multiple agreements with one organisation, the Tier 1 ISA confirms that personal data will be shared in accordance with UK GDPR/DPA 2018, this allows Tier 2 to focus on the process of how and why the information will be shared.
Tier 1 Information sharing agreement
- When an organisation wants to be part of our sharing protocol, they sign up to a Tier 1 Information Sharing Agreement (ISA).
- It is signed off by, or on behalf of, a chief officer or equivalent for each organisation.
- ISA Tier 1 is implemented to make sure regular personal data sharing is in accordance with privacy legislation.
Tier 2 Information sharing agreement
- When two organisations know exactly what data they want to share, for what purpose and for how long etc. they sign up to a Tier 2 ISA
- It can be signed off by local managers, asset owners, asset assistants, asset guardians, asset custodians or anyone who considers themselves accountable for the data and the data exchange.
- As the Tier 2 ISA relates to specific sharing of data, an organisation may have multiple ISA’s with us.
Once either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 ISA is signed, a copy should be sent to us by email: informationsharing@avonandsomerset.police.uk
Who we share with
Information is shared regularly with our partner agencies for a variety of reasons including:
- to allow us to jointly tackle issues relating to policing, crime and anti-social behaviour (operational policing)
- to prevent harm to individuals (safeguarding)
- to carry out research or evaluations (research)
- to collaborate to provide services (collaborations)
Partner agencies
Partner agencies we regularly share information with under an Information sharing Agreement. These are the most recent agreements. There may be other agencies we share with which will not include any national sharing arrangements.
Operational Policing
- Aashyana Housing Association
- Abri Housing Association
- Afrs
- Alliance Homes
- Ashley Community Housing
- Aster Group (Used To Be Communities)
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP)
- Banes Council
- Barnabus Housing Association
- Barnardo’s
- Bath & North East Somerset Council (and Safeguarding)
- Bath Business Crime Retail Partnership
- Blue Water Property Investment Ltd
- Brighter Places
- Bristol Airport
- Bristol City Council
- Bristol City Football Club
- Bristol Community Housing Foundation
- Bristol Crime Retail Partnership
- Bristol Drugs Project
- Bristol Rovers Football Club
- Bristol, Glos, Somerset & Wilts Community Rehabilitation Co.
- Bromford Housing
- Brunelcare
- Caridon Housing Group
- Chapter 1
- CPS/MOJ
- Cranstoun
- Curo
- Devon & Cornwall Housing Ltd
- DHI Drug & Alcohol Service
- Elim Housing Association
- Fosseway Housing
- Guinness Partnership (Formerly Guinness Trust Group)
- Habinteg Housing Association
- Hastoe Housing Association
- Highbridge & Landlords Together (Halt)
- Homes In Sedgemoor
- Housing 21
- Julian House
- Key4life
- King’s Barton Housing Association
- Live West (Formerly Knightstone Housing)
- Magna Housing Association
- Merlin (Incorporating Bromford)
- National Probation Service
- Nelson Trust
- Next Link (IDVA)
- North Somerset Council
- North Somerset Council (and Safeguarding)
- Omega-Mears Housing Association
- Orbit Housing Association
- Places For People
- Raglan Housing Association
- Redland Housing Association
- Robyn Trust
- Sanctuary Housing
- Second Step Housing Association
- Sedgemoor District Council
- Self Help Community Housing Association
- Shal Housing
- Signpost Care Partnership
- Signpost Housing Association
- Somerset Housing Association
- Somerset County Council
- Somerset Drug & Alcohol Services
- Somerset One Team
- Somerset West And Taunton Council (Previously West Somerset Council And Taunton Deane Borough Council)
- South Gloucestershire Council
- South Somerset District Council
- South Western Housing Society
- Sovereign Housing
- St Giles Trust
- St. Mungo’s Housing Association
- Stonewater Housing
- Stonham
- The Nelson Trust
- The Property Portfolio (South) Ltd
- University of West of England (UWE) (and Research Evaluation)
- We Are With You
- William Sutton Homes
- Yarlington Housing Group
- Yeovil Business Crime Retail Partnership
- Yeovil Football Club
Research Evaluation
- Birmingham University
- Bournemouth University
- Bristol University
- City, University of London
- Durham University
- London Metropolitan University
- Middlesex University
- National Police Chiefs Council (and Operational Policing)
- Northumbria University
- Office of Police & Crime Commissioner (and Operational Policing)
- Open University
- University of Manchester
- University of Suffolk
- University of West of England (UWE) (and Operational Policing)
Safeguarding
- Barnardos
- Bath & North East Somerset Council (and Operational Policing)
- North Somerset Council (and Operational Policing)
- Somerset Children’s Safeguarding Partnership
- Somerset County Council (and Operational Policing)
- South Gloucestershire Council (and Operational Policing)
- Bristol City Council (and Operational Policing)
- Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership
Contact us
For more information about information sharing, contact the Information Sharing Coordinator:
- by email – informationsharing@avonandsomerset.police.uk
- in writing –
Information Sharing Coordinator – Legal Services
PO Box 37
Avon and Somerset Police
Police Headquarters
Valley Road
Portishead
BS20 8QJ