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

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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

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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 

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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’

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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

Protect welcomes moral pledge by Higher Education Minister to end NDAs in universities

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Victims of sexual harassment in universities should no longer be silenced by Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), under a new pledge backed by the government, universities and campaigners. Six university vice-chancellors invited to attend the launch have signed up to a pledge promising not to use NDAs in dealing with complaints of sexual misconduct, bullying, and other … Read more

Government Anti-Corruption Strategy acknowledges ‘failure to review whistleblowing framework due to pandemic’ 

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The Government’s third update of its progress to the UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017-2022 has been published, and acknowledges a failure to review the whistleblowing framework is ‘due to resources being prioritised for the pandemic response.’  Launched in December 2017 the Strategy aims to support national security, prosperity and trust in institutions. It sets out a longer-term vision of anti-corruption action leading to:  reduced threats to ... Read more

Local authorities up and down the UK owe it to their staff and residents to not repeat the gross mismanagement of Edinburgh Council  

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Whistleblowing culture is so much more than having a policy. Reporting channels, speak up ambassadors and champions are all great to have in place.  But if there is no communication, no promotion of these channels, and most importantly - no management and Board buy in – they are effectively meaningless.  Protect has been championing whistleblowing for almost 30 years. We know the pitfalls and have seen the damage to individuals and ... Read more

EU Governments can learn a lot from PIDA over the last 25 years

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Today – 17 December 2021- is the official deadline for the EU Whistleblowing Directive to be transposed by Member States. And, as the EU Whistleblowing Monitor demonstrates, it’s been a slow start with only a handful of the 27 EU countries meeting today’s deadline to implement the new requirements. Whistleblowing International Network (WIN) and Transparency ... Read more

Protect statement on West Suffolk Review

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 “We welcome the long awaited West Suffolk Review – and agree the intimidating witch hunt of a whistleblower was, as the review says, ‘nothing short of disastrous, not only for the staff directly caught up in the process, but for other members of the Trust’s staff, the working environment more generally, and for the Trust’s reputation internally and externally.’   ... Read more

UK whistleblowing charity Protect appoints Julia Graham as new Trustee

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 UK whistleblowing charity Protect has appointed Julia Graham, the CEO of Airmic, the UK association of insurance and risk managers as a Trustee. Julia has a background in international insurance, enterprise risk management and compliance with four decades of experience in a global insurance company and a global law firm.  She is the UK Government ... Read more