Field interviewers

You asked

1. Under what statute does ONS seek to rely upon that its Interviewers are acting lawfully when re attending addresses that have declined to participate in surveys, and that they are not committing an offence under the Protection from Harassment legislation?

2. What training is given to interviewers and interviewer managers in respect of Harassment and the European Convention of Human Rights?

3. What legal advice has ONS obtained, to support its policy of Interviewers revisiting addresses whose occupants have refused to take part previously is a lawful activity and is not causing harassment to occupants?

4. A copy of the Human Rights assessment undertaken by ONS showing that this policy of reissuing addresses is proportionate, supported in law, accountable and necessary.

5. What is the policy of ONS in supporting an Interviewer who in the course of their employment is subject of a criminal complaint of harassment?

We said

1. The Statistics and Registrations Services Act (SRSA) 2007 sets out the powers and functions of the Statistics Board (of which the Office for National Statistics is the executive office). Section 20(1) of the SRSA provides that the Statistics Board may produce and publish statistics relating to any matter and that Section 26(1) of the SRSA allows the Board to do anything which would be necessary or expedient to do so. Under this legislation it is lawful for ONS to run voluntary surveys. In so doing the Statistics Board must ensure that it is compliant with all other relevant legislation (for example the Data Protection Act) and creates its policies and processes accordingly.

   Although not legislation, the Code of Practice for Official Statistics and the Respondent charter for surveys of households and individuals (available on the ONS website).

2. No specific training is given in respect of Harassment and the European Convention of Human Rights.

3. ONS has not taken any specific legal advice to support its policy of Interviewers revisiting addresses whose occupants have refused.
   Interviewer conduct surrounding the approach and re-approach of sampled households is clearly explained in the Standard Instruction Manual (SIM), through interviewer training, mentoring and the ongoing support and coaching from Interviewer Managers and colleagues. Interviewers are under strict instructions to behave in an appropriate and non-coercive manner. Formal training in Achieving Cooperation is also available periodically. Outright refusals should be treated as such and no re-contact will be made. However there will be circumstances where re-contact may be appropriate - e.g. where a respondent did not have time or was very clearly busy on initial contact. ONS revisits these addresses because it wants to maximise the chances of the public taking part in a survey. We do not harass potential respondents but think it is reasonable to try to persuade people, in a respectful manner, to participate.

4. No Human Rights assessment has been undertaken.

5. There has not been a case of an interviewer subject to a criminal complaint of harassment related to their work. In terms of supporting the individual subject to a complaint, if the matter was investigated, the individual would be entitled to be represented/accompanied at meetings. We would advise them of the Employment Assistance Programme service where they can access support/advice. We also offer an Occupational Health service if the individual required it and, of course, advice from Human Resources, their manager or the Unions.