Transparency data

MOJ annual statement on research integrity: 2023 to 2024

Published 23 September 2024

The Ministry of Justice statement on compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, 2023-24

1. This statement describes how Ministry of Justice (MOJ) research complies with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity (the Concordat), and the activities undertaken during the period 2023-24 relevant to the Concordat.

Introductory Statement and Summary of Actions

2. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is a major government department, working to protect and advance the principles of justice and deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone. Our responsibilities are significant, wide-ranging and have implications for some of the most vulnerable people in society. It is imperative that robust research and analysis underpins this remit. We need to understand who, why, and how people come into contact with our system and what we can do to improve their experiences and outcomes and the overall efficiency of the justice system.

3. As a department, we are committed to enhancing the way science, data, analysis, and evidence is used to shape policy and operational decisions and drive improvements to justice outcomes.

4. We are proud to work with a diverse community of scientists, engineers, and analysts at MOJ, including economists, operational and social researchers, statisticians and data scientists. Analysts in the department adhere to the professional standards and protocols set by the Analysis Function and individual analytical professions.

5. In April 2023, we published our Evaluation and Prototyping Strategy. It sets out the steps MOJ will take to realise the ambition of putting insights from data, evidence and collaboration at the heart of decision making to improve outcomes across the justice system.

6. We published the MOJ Areas of Research Interest (ARI) in 2020. The publication sets out MOJ’s medium-term research priorities, aligned with the department’s strategic objectives for the justice system. It highlights where new research can have the most impact for policy and practice and has been the foundation of our successful partnerships with academia. The ARI page has recently been updated to reflect the impact that has followed its publication, demonstrating MOJ’s commitment to maximising the use and impact of academic expertise and collaborations to address departmental evidence needs. A refreshed MOJ ARI document will be published in 2025.

Governance

7. Accountability for research integrity is shared by Hugh Stickland, Chief Data Officer and acting Chief Scientific Adviser, and Chris Drane, Director of Analysis.

8. Research is overseen by thematic governance boards, with high level oversight from the Strategic Evidence and Evaluation Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the delivery against strategic evidence priorities.  

9. Any queries on matters of research integrity at the MOJ can be addressed to the Departmental GSR Head of Profession at: mojgsrhop@justice.gov.uk

Processes to support culture of research integrity

10. The department’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Director of Analysis, and Heads of Profession have responsibility for promotion of research integrity, as well as supporting ongoing professional development.

11. Research undertaken in the Data and Analysis directorates follows a Research and Evaluation Approval Process that enhances existing analytical quality assurance processes and adheres to established best practice across government (the Magenta Book). This is designed to provide greater consistency and assurance, enhance methodological quality, and ensure research is ethical. Research undertaken throughout the department requires approval or oversight from relevant governance mechanisms.

Guidance for researchers, employers and commissioners of research

12. The departmental intranet includes guidance for data and analysis, analytical quality assurance, and research ethics. Specific guidance is provided to staff in the Data and Analysis directorates on the procurement of research, analysis, and evidence.

Training and awareness raising

13. There is an expectation that all analysis and research conducted within the department will adhere to analytical quality assurance best practice and standards, as outlined within the AQuA book. To help facilitate this, the department has also developed a suite of templates, guidance, and training, all hosted on a dedicated internal website, to ensure that all quality assurance is proportionate and appropriate to the risks and complexities of the analysis undertaken.

External engagement

14. The department has engaged with the cross-government concordat working group coordinated by the Government Office for Science.

15. The department regularly engages across government on matters of research integrity, including with the Government Office for Science Science Capability Hub, and members of the Chief Scientific Adviser network.

Open Science and research protocols

16. Details of research conducted at MOJ and how external researchers can apply to access MoJ data or conduct research at MOJ are provided at the MoJ Research page. This includes a published log of approved external data requests.

17. Details of research conducted at MOJ’s agencies and arm’s length bodies are available at the MOJ agencies and ALB research page.

18. MOJ is committed to facilitating research in the justice system, including through novel research facilitated by data-linking programmes such as Data First and BOLD.

19. Data First is a pioneering data-linking programme led by MOJ and funded by ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) to facilitate research in the justice space. It is unlocking the wealth of data already created by MOJ, by linking administrative datasets from across the justice system and enabling accredited researchers, from within government and academia, to access the data in an ethical and responsible way, and leading to innovative policy insights.

20. Better Outcomes through Linked Data (BOLD) is a programme funded by HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund. BOLD is an innovative and collaborative governmental programme set up to share and link data on an unprecedented scale to transform public services across the Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and Welsh Government. Each of these departments function to address the various interrelated factors of vulnerability, providing key services to support at-risk members of society. By sharing and linking data previously held in silos by these departments and their wider partners, BOLD is enabling a more holistic understanding of vulnerable individuals’ needs and has delivered crucial data-driven insights to evaluate and improve government services. 

Publication of research

21. In line with the GSR Publication guidance the Government Social Research (GSR) profession in the department oversees the commissioning and publication of social research projects in MOJ and its agencies.  Where possible, social research carried out in MOJ is published as a GSR report on GOV.UK after peer review and sign off by the GSR Head of Profession.

Research misconduct

22. The MOJ conduct policy sets out the behaviour and conduct expected from all employees. There is a formal disciplinary process to ensure employees meet the standards set out in the MOJ conduct policy and the Civil Service Code.

23. Reports of research misconduct would be investigated through the departmental disciplinary process and the Civil Service code as appropriate.

24. The MOJ whistleblowing policy statement and procedure outlines how to report suspected wrongdoing and how whistle blowers will be supported.