Learning Resources: Public Services: Recommended Websites

Government & Professional Bodies

There are many websites which you will find useful for your studies, I have listed some of the most popular ones below. Please let me know if there are other websites which you feel others may wish to know about and I will include them on this page.

The Environment Agency (EA) The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body, established in 1995 and sponsored by the United Kingdom government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), with responsibilities relating to the protection and enhancement of the environment in England (and until 2013 also Wales).
Equality and Human Rights Commission The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) monitors human rights, protecting equality across 9 grounds - age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation and gender reassignment
Government Information Service Provides links to all UK national and local Government Departments
Health & Safety Executive HSE) protects people against risks to health or safety arising out of work activities, through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, inspection, investigation and enforcement
Health & Safety in the Public Services The Public Services Sector encompasses all local and central government and their agencies. This website provides information about the management of health and safety risks. The sector employs nearly 5 million workers in Great Britain, in addition to many others employed under ‘contracted out' services. Improvement in health and safety standards can therefore have a significant impact on business efficiency.
Health Careers Health Careers is a website detailing NHS careers. The following link details the role of the Ambulance service team
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales (HMI Prisons) is an independent inspectorate which reports on conditions for and treatment of those in prison, young offender institutions and immigration detention facilities.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire & rescue services – in the public interest
HM Courts & Tribunals Service Information on the work of the Court Service, the executive agency of the Lord Chancellor’s Department which provides administrative support to courts and tribunals in England and Wales
Home Office The Home Office is the Government department responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales; covering areas such as racial equality & diversity, and criminal justice. It also includes statistical information such as British Crime Survey.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct The Independent Office for Police Conduct, formerly the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Who oversee the police complaints system and investigate the most serious incidents and complaints involving the police.
Legislation.gov.uk The official home of UK legislation. This website is managed by The National Archives on behalf of HM Government.
Local Government Association - Fire & Rescue The national voice of local government, working with councils to support, promote and improve
National Crime Agency The National Crime Agency is a national law enforcement agency in the United Kingdom. It was established in 2013 as a non-ministerial government department, replacing the Serious Organised Crime Agency
National Probation Service The National Probation Service is a statutory criminal justice service that supervises high-risk offenders released into the community.
Skills for Justice Skills for Justice is a not-for-profit organisation committed to the development of an improved and sustainable Justice and Community Safety sector workforce across the UK. The organisation was established in 2004 as the Sector Skills Council for the Justice and Community Safety sector

Major Incidents

NHS Clinical guidelines for major incidents This document allows the NHS to establish and share best practice in the clinical management of major incidents and mass casualty events, using experience from both military and civilian practice and lessons identified after the recent incidents; assisting clinicians in managing these patients.
Major incidents – North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service A major incident can be defined as any emergency that requires the implementation of special arrangements by one or more of the Emergency Services
Preparing for Emergencies – GOV.UK All local councils have an emergency plans covering major incidents like flooding, flu pandemics and transport accidents. Information searchable by postcode.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar is Google's academic search engine. It allows you to search for information published in journals and books, for example. It includes an increasing amount on open access material as well content that you would have to pay to access.

Use Google Scholar alongside the many databases that the College subscribes to so you get relevant and accurate content.

Public Services

Border Force Border Force is a law enforcement command within the Home Office. They secure the UK border by carrying out immigration and customs controls for people and goods entering the UK
British Army The Official Website of the British Army with links to Training & Education, Equipment, Operations & Deployments, Army Structure and News & Features.
Centre for Crime and Justice studies – Publications All publications are available to download for free.
College of Policing Professional body overseeing operational and training standards, a knowledge base of 'what works' and the professional development framework for the Policing profession
Fire Service Resources UK Fire Service Resources aims to provide Fire and Rescue Service related information and an online community where members of the UK Fire and Rescue Service and members of the public can find all the information they require.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Website contains links to News, Fire Authority publications, community resources and general information on the GM Fire and Rescue Service.
HM Prison Service Official Website for HM Prison Service, contains information including Prisons & Probation, statistics and publications
Maritime & Coastguard Agency Work to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea. They produce legislation and guidance on maritime matters, and provide certification to seafarers. MCA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Transport
North West Ambulance Service The website has information about the ambulance service, news, reports and links detailing the various services.
Police.UK Crime and Policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Use the Menu and site map to locate an index of information about the site
Prison Service Journal The Prison Service Journal is a peer reviewed journal published by HM Prison Service of England and Wales. Its purpose is to promote discussion on issues related to the work of the Prison Service, the wider criminal justice system and associated fields. It aims to present reliable information and a range of views about these issues. It is hosted by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies following the re-structure of the Prison Service and the loss of the Prison Service website.
Royal Air Force Official Website of the Royal Air Force. Includes information on aircraft, stations, history, current news and links to associated websites
Royal Navy Official Website for the Royal Navy with links to Features, Operations, Equipment, News and Careers
UK Visas and Immigration UK Visas and Immigration is responsible for making millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the country, with a firm emphasis on national security and a culture of customer satisfaction for people who come here legally. UKVI is part of the Home Office

Statistical Sources

Crime statistics for England and Wales National Statistics on crime previously published by the Home Office are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Statistics on hate crime, racist incidents, crime outcomes, crime against businesses and drugs misuse
Government Statistics Provides links to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, Home Office, Research and Statistics Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of Social Security – Analytical Services Division (DSS), Environmental Key Facts.
Home Office Statistics A range of research and statistics relating to crime, policing, immigration, drugs, and other areas of Home Office responsibility.
Ministry of Justice - Statistics Official statistics produced impartially and free from political influence.
Office for National Statistics The UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics and the recognised national statistical institute of the UK
Our World in Data – Terrorism Our World in Data (OWID) is a scientific online publication that focuses on large global problems such as poverty, disease, hunger, climate change, war, existential risks, and inequality.
Social Trends Social Trends draws together social and economic data from a wide range of government departments and other organisations to provide a comprehensive guide to UK society today, and how it has been changing.
UK Data Service A national data service launched in April 2013 to integrate four former services: the Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS), the Secure Data Service, the Survey Question Bank and census.ac.uk. It provides access to and support for a wide range of economic and social data. Includes UK surveys, cross-national surveys, longitudinal studies, business microdata, worldwide country-level data, qualitative data and UK census data. To access you will need to create a personal account (free of charge).

Podcasts

Looking for a way to learn more about your subject area without reading? Consider listening to podcasts that may help to increase your knowledge.

Podcasts vary in quality, frequency and reliability, so make sure you evaluate them before using the information for an assignment.

BBC Radio 4 – Thinking Allowed Laurie Taylor leads a weekly discussion on topical issues within academic institutions and research bodies. Downloads include: Stigma, Housing crisis, Police culture, Women & Democracy, Racial inequality, White working class and many more.
National Counter Terrorism Police HQ - Code: Severe The UK's National Counter Terror Police Unit has released a podcast chronicling the stories of the real terror plots it has managed to prevent. Each episode tackles a near-miss terrorist attack and includes interviews and recordings with counter-terrorism police officers, witnesses, whistleblowers, and the terrorists themselves.
Oxford Transitional Justice Research Oxford Transitional Justice Research (OTJR) is an inter-disciplinary network of more than 100 Oxford staff and students working broadly on issues of transition in societies recovering from mass conflict and/or repressive rule
University of Oxford – A Romp Through Ethics for Complete Beginners This free site features public lectures, teaching material, interviews with leading academics, information about applying to the University, and much more. All the material is arranged within a series of related talks or lectures and may be in audio, video or document format. Content is being added regularly to.

Public Services: Recommended Websites