News - Protect - Speak up stop harm

Protect’s Head of Policy interviewed on BBC about Ockenden Review

26th April 20221st April 2022 by Alex Allen

Protect's Head of Policy, Andrew Pepper-Parsons, was interviewed by BBC Shropshire about the shocking findings of the Ockenden Review into NHS Shrewsbury and Telford. He detailed the scale of abuse of whistleblowers in the UK and how this can have horrendous impacts on public safety and workplace conditions. He also discussed what needs to change ... Read more

‘Tackling Corruption – Is Whistleblowing the first line of defence?

14th September 202228th February 2022 by Alex Allen

At Protect event, 'Tackling Corruption - Is Whistleblowing the first line of defence? held in partnership with law firm Leigh Day (February 24), delegates heard the vital role whistleblowing plays in business. Protect Chief Executive, Liz Gardiner, chairing the event, said, "Given the vital service whistleblowers provide in holding organisations and governments to account the ... Read more

Protect Impact Report shows jump in harassment cases

14th September 202224th February 2022 by Alex Allen

Our 2021 Impact Report shows a rise in harassment - bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination - has jumped from 8% of our total Advice Line cases in 2020 to 14% in 2021. Head of Advocacy and Advice, Bob Matheson said, “Year on year we are seeing a rise in harassment cases and since 2017 there ... Read more

Protect Head of Advice & Advocacy to speak at Cork University event

22nd February 2022 by Alex Allen

Protect's Head of Advice & Advocacy Bob Matheson will join a high profile debate hosted by the University of Cork on March 2, in event 'Whistleblowing and Advocacy Groups.' Joining Bob will be John Devitt, Chief Executive of Transparency International (TI)’s chapter in Ireland and Amanda Hitt, the founder and director of the Food Integrity ... Read more

Protect team members attend Mental Health First Aid training

18th February 2022 by Alex Allen

Protect knows better than most whistleblowing is not an easy thing to do. In our almost 30 year history, we have supported more than 45,000 whistleblowers. Many of the whistleblowers we support call us back more than once. Some cases go on for many years and are extremely traumatic. The impact on the whistleblower and ... Read more

Whistleblowers unable to report concerns about No 10 wrongdoing – Protect calls for an overhaul of whistleblowing in central government.

11th February 202231st January 2022 by Alex Allen

Sue Gray, in her much-anticipated report into parties at 10 Downing Street while the UK was in lockdown, gave this worrying conclusion on the whistleblowing culture her team found: "Some staff wanted to raise concerns about behaviours they witnessed at work but at times felt unable to do so. No member of staff should feel ... Read more

Backbench debate on the rise of ‘SLAPP lawsuits’ – a threat to freedom of expression

27th January 2022 by Alex Allen

A backbench debate heard that SLAPP lawsuits - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation – are having a chilling effect on freedom of expression. Defamation claims are most identified as SLAPPS and used to silence a critic, such as a journalist, by engaging them in costly litigation, rather than because of any legal merit. Other legal ... Read more

Protect and Leigh Day to host anti-corruption panel debate

25th January 2022 by Alex Allen

Anti-Corruption Government Tsar, John Penrose MP will join Protect and Leigh Day in panel debate 'Tackling Corruption - Is whistleblowing the first line of defence?' on Thursday 24 February. International corruption and whistleblowing lawyer, Paul Dowling, a partner at Leigh Day will join the debate to discuss legal claims used to hold organisations to account. ... Read more

Former Protect CE’s launch specialised whistleblowing law firm

25th January 2022 by Alex Allen

Protect has welcomed a new specialist law firm James & West Law – The Whistleblowing Experts, established by two former Protect Chief Executives Cathy James and Francesca West. Francesca and Cathy have been working with whistleblowers and specialising in whistleblowing law since 2005. Both worked at Protect, for 14 years each, both having a tenure ... Read more

Protect statement on Guardian story ‘Staff blow whistle on Environment Agency that ‘no longer deters polluters’

20th January 2022 by Alex Allen

Head of Policy at Protect, Andrew Pepper-Parsons said: “The report in today’s Guardian, 'Staff blow whistle on Environment Agency that 'no longer deters polluters' that Environment Agency cuts have left staff unable to do their jobs, and warned against speaking to the media by Environment Agency Chief Executive James Bevan, if accurate, is extremely concerning ... Read more