If you keep an eye on the data request roadmap ODUG publishes and regularly updates you’ll see that we are continuing to assess and work through the requests we receive via the data request mechanism on data.gov.uk. This user-demand focussed mechanism, in place since September 2012, will soon feed into a supply-side inventory of datasets, the National Information Infrastructure, which is being developed across departments and will help users identify potentially beneficial datasets more easily. The data requests submitted on data.gov.uk are assessed by ODUG and prioritised each time we meet. Then ODUG picks up the more complex ‘asks’ – on the basis of their potential for maximum economic benefit - and Cabinet Office officials work directly with departments on the remainder of the requests.
As part of our current push on vehicle related data requests ODUG is today following up on the benefits case calling on the DVLA to release its bulk data as Open Data under an Open Government License (OGL) with a similar benefits case calling for the release of the Police Stolen Vehicle Data (attached to this blog as well as available in the library section).
The release of this data would potentially result in less vehicle crime (through increased transparency), a higher rate of resolution of police stolen vehicle cases (through improved public engagement), safer roads (less stolen and uninsured vehicles on the roads) and reduced insurance claims/payouts. The estimated benefits to society of opening up this data are in excess of £2bn per annum.
Heather Savory
Chair Open Data User Group
August 2013
“Please continue to send us your data requests here on data.gov.uk and let ODUG help make the case to government and the wider public sector for more publicly funded data to be made available as open data.”
2 comments
Comment by DbaiG posted on
IT people usually have bad reputation among users but it is good to know that ODUG is doing a good job. End-user satisfaction is not only desired but also beneficial for the website too because truly understanding your user’s experiences and requests and fulfill them is the best way to monitor your web services. Keep it up!
DbaiG
Bolee.com
Comment by imissmarmite posted on
This needs to be well thought out as the current process to checking if a vehicle is stolen allows for accountability and helps the police to trace a vehicle by receiving details of who checked to see if a vehicle is stolen which is then followed up by the police. If the info is freely available then there is no accountability plus the fact a criminal could check if a car has yet been reported stolen in order to sell it or use it for criminal activities. It would also make for a lot of redundancies at companies like car check uk who use this information for commercial purposes.