Chesterfield man hits out at ‘intrusive’ census

A Chesterfield man has slammed the census – branding it ‘intrusive’ and ‘of no benefit whatsoever’.
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The census – which takes place on Sunday – is a survey about all households in England and Wales, and includes questions about people’s sex, age, work and ethnicity.

Officials say the census helps decide how services are funded – and those who don’t complete it could be fined up to £1,000.

Adrian Rimington is not a fan of the census. Picture by Brian Eyre.Adrian Rimington is not a fan of the census. Picture by Brian Eyre.
Adrian Rimington is not a fan of the census. Picture by Brian Eyre.
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Adrian Rimington, of Horsley Close, has criticised the survey.

The 64-year-old disability rights campaigner told how he had completed a number of censuses during his lifetime but did not think local services had improved.

He said: “For the ordinary person, the intrusion is of no benefit whatsoever.

“I feel it's a waste of time.”

He added he was concerned he would ‘not get adequate social care when needed’ after taking part in the latest census.

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A spokesperson for the Office for National Statistics – which runs the census – said: “The census will shed light on the needs of different groups and communities, and the inequalities people are experiencing, ensuring the big decisions facing the country following the pandemic and EU exit are based on the best information possible.

“Information from the 2011 census has already been crucial in our understanding of mortality for different groups during the pandemic – for example, to understand deaths by ethnicity, religion and disability status – and is the only source of local-level information on occupation and household composition.

“With fresh data from 2021, we will be able to update the analysis we have already done and use it alongside new data sources to give us the richest data we have ever had.

“Census 2021 will not only provide a fresh picture of the population and our health – it will also shed light on social and economic changes to our lives.

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“It will provide us with new information that we will be able to use for years to come.

“This information will inform decisions on public services, including hospitals, schools, universities and job centres, to meet the needs of our changing society.”

The census has occurred every decade since 1801 with the exception of 1941.

This year’s census will be the first run predominantly online.

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For more information about the census, visit www.census.gov.uk.

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