News

Your monthly whistleblowing news update. This month: McDonald’s faces up to two sex abuse claims a week, employment tribunal rules on parliamentary privilege challenge in foreign office whistle-blowing case and following Lucy Letby, 71% of doctors say whistleblowing damages careers.

Josie Stewart, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) whistleblower, who is bringing a claim that she was unfairly dismissed because she blew the whistle can’t rely on parts of her evidence because of Parliamentary Privilege.

As a member of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition we have been closely following the progress of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECB2) through Parliament. Now passed into law this is the first anti-SLAPP provision in UK law. While this is definitely a step in the right direction, there’s still much more that could and … Read more

Protect’s Environmental Whistleblowing Toolkit  New research by Protect shows that concerns about being fired or victimised at work are preventing people from calling out their employers on the climate crisis and the wider environment. (The Guardian) + Our new toolkit launched at the beginning of October, providing practical help for people considering blowing the whistle on … Read more

Whistleblowing charity Protect supports Labour’s proposed clarification to whistleblowing protection Elizabeth Gardiner, CEO of Protect, the UK’s whistleblowing charity said:  Protect would welcome clarification of the law.  We know, from talking to whistleblowers every day, that it is difficult for anyone to be certain whether they have the protection of whistleblowing law when it comes … Read more

Fear of reprisals and victimisation hold workers back from reporting damage to the environment.   Workers say they’d hold back from raising issues about environmental damage because of fear of reprisals, concerns about providing proof and worries their concern wouldn’t be dealt with properly.  Only a third (36%) of workers believe they can raise environmental … Read more

Lucy Letby Whistleblowing stops harm – but only when whistleblowers are heard. Could deaths have been avoided if concerns raised about Lucy Letby had been acted on sooner? This week Andrew Pepper-Parsons, Director of Policy at Protect, and Elizabeth Gardiner, CEO Protect, appeared on both Sky News and TalkTv. + Hospital bosses ignored months of … Read more

Protect’s Lucy Letby Statement:  Time to review how whistleblowing is dealt with in the NHS  Our thoughts are with the families whose lives have been torn apart by the despicable crimes of Lucy Letby. We welcome the Government’s inquiry so that improvements can be made to the system, including how concerns are raised and addressed. … Read more

The fight against gagging clauses   Abusing NDAs to silence whistleblowers benefits no one. The fight to reform the use of gagging clauses continues. (Campaign Live)   Whistleblower consequences  Yet again, we are faced with another story of whistleblowers being ignored. It is crucial to protect those who bravely speak up in order to create an … Read more

Reflecting on whistleblowing Sinead Farrelly: Whistleblowing, car accidents & a World Cup with a broken hand – BBC Sport Whistleblowing is rarely easy – Sinead Farrelly reflects on her experiences and life after speaking out.  BBC backlash  Huw Edwards was secretly investigated by BBC colleagues before scandal erupted (telegraph.co.uk) Huw Edward’s wife speaks up and … Read more

Whistleblower rewards  Whistleblower receives large compensation following detrimental effects of whistleblowing: bullying, harassment and intimidation. Hopefully a lesson learnt by Royal Mail to address whistleblowing concerns and support whistleblowers from the start.  (Personnel Today) NHS in need of change  NHS culture hitting a new low as senior members come forward expressing deep worries for the … Read more

New research from the UK’s whistleblowing charity Protect shows too many whistleblowers working in schools are ignored and victimised for raising public interest concerns.  Schools should have a whistleblowing champion on the school board, training should be provided to all managers on how to properly listen and act on concerns.  Ofsted should be made a prescribed person … Read more

Elevate Your Expertise in Whistleblowing: Join the Upcoming Whistleblowing Training Summer School In the month of July, Protect is excited to announce our Whistleblowing Training Summer School, where you can unlock safe whistleblowing practices and become an invaluable asset in creating a robust speak-up culture. Are you passionate about or involved with fostering a culture … Read more

Celebrating 30 years of supporting whistleblowers   In 2022 Protect advised almost 2,500 individuals and supported around 220 employers with their whistleblowing arrangements   Thursday 6th June 2023  The UK’s whistleblowing charity, Protect, celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in 2023 and today publishes its impact report and annual report for 2022. Launching its report, the charity highlights:  Protect … Read more

Paying People to do the Right Thing: The pros and cons of adopting US-style whistleblower rewards programmes. Should there be a financial reward for whistleblowing? Does this encourage speaking out or is it an effective shortcut for regulators? Does it create a system where money and not the public interest is the motivation? A whistleblowing … Read more

NHS falls short on  staff training   Just one of 199 trusts analysed in England has a specific sexual harassment module, a failure on the NHS’ behalf to protect members of staff from harm. Training should be mandatory in order to prevent victimisation. (The Guardian)  More sexual harassment whistleblowers  Alleged behaviour of Tesco Chairman dangerously … Read more

More on CBI sexual misconduct  See Protect’s comment on recent CBI sexual misconduct and Tony Danker’s firing. (HR Grapevine)   Tech in trouble  Frances Haugen, the Facebook whistle-blower, made the world aware of the harm tech companies can cause. Since, what has changed and how has whistleblowing helped change it?  (Lawfare)  + Some top US … Read more

Whistleblowers against sexual harassment   NHS Chief has applauded staff speaking out against misogyny and harassment and intends to continue this encouragement. (The Times)  + Business Reporter describes new legislation working its way through Parliament and the impact this will have on an employer’s responsibility to tackle sexual harassment. (Business Reporter)  CBI in serious need … Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. How can health workers blow the whistle?   Protect’s view on whistleblowing in the health sector. (The Carer UK)  The importance of whistleblowing in charities  Answering the big question; why is whistleblowing in charities SO important? (Shoosmiths)  Horse meat 2.0   Farmers Weekly is intent on stamping out food … Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. Government finally launches review into whistleblowing framework  Sybille Raphael, Legal Director at Protect, comments on the government review ‘The UK can be proud of having led the way on whistleblowing protection, but our law was passed in 1998 and now needs updating’. (Personnel Today)  + Ian King … Read more

Protect welcomes the long-awaited government review of the whistleblowing framework in the UK. We have been calling for this for many years, and have drafted our own Bill of all the changes that are needed. Protect (then called Public Concern at Work) was instrumental in drafting the UK’s whistleblowing law – the Public Interest Disclosure Act … Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. Sexism, racism and homophobia rife in Met Police and whistleblowers not welcome  The culture of not speaking up has become ingrained in the Met Police because those who do come forward are not believed and those who speak up learn the hard way that there are adverse consequences … Read more

Louise Casey’s report into the Met Police reveals a culture of institutional racism, sexism and homophobia and that whistleblowers are not welcome. The report notes: “The prevailing culture in the Met does not encourage reporting of wrong-doing, rather those who experience it fear the consequences of being ostracised, moved or removed for speaking out.” Elizabeth … Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. Whistleblowers against sexual harassment   Protect’s head of Policy, Andrew Pepper-Parsons, featured in last weeks Times article commenting on the CBI sexual harassment allegations. (The Times)  + TikTok’s handling of complaints about sexual misconduct is criticised by staff. (Financial Times)  + The government is supporting a private members … Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. Environmental whistleblowing  From 2010-2019, The Environment Agency (EA) visited 403 of England’s 7,000 sewage waste sites. The EA excuses the infrequent practises claiming they have other methods to scrutinise the compliance of these areas. Several EA and water company insiders knew the system would be a bad … Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. Environmental whistleblowing  Careful considerations are to be made when purchasing sustainable or eco-friendly alternatives as EU crackdown sheds light on inflated safety claims. 54% of claims are found to be ‘vague, misleading or unfounded.’ (The Guardian) + A group of researchers have raised a complaint against Tesco … Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. Environmental whistleblowing  ClientEarth argues the Financial Conduct Authority acted unlawfully when approving prospectus of UK oil and gas company Ithaca Energy PLC, so filing case against UK financial Regulator for failing to describe climate-related risks. (ClientEarth)  + New legislation to crack the whip on unproven environmental assertions … Read more

Firms not doing enough to support whistleblowing has led Protect, the UK’s whistleblowing charity, to launch an online assessment tool for small and medium-sized organisations (SMEs) London – 20th February 2023 Protect, the UK’s leading whistleblowing charity, today launches its Whistleblowing Scanner, an online assessment tool for smaller organisations to test their whistleblowing culture, as … Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. Whistleblowers fighting sexism, harassment and abuse.  A “closing of ranks around unacceptable behaviour” in the TSSA union was found by Baroness Kennedy in her independent inquiry – a sure way to silence potential whistleblowers. “Wilful blindness” and sexist behaviour was reported throughout leadership. (The Guardian) + McDonald’s has … Read more

LONDON, 14 February 2023: Protect, the UK’s leading whistleblowing charity, has applauded a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to rule in favour of ‘Luxleaks’ whistleblower, Raphael Halet. In a judgment published this morning, the court has reversed a previous decision by the lower chamber – which upheld the decision of the ... Read more

Your weekly dose of what’s up in whistleblowing. Whistleblowers at the heart of government. Boris Johnson prioritises animal charity during Afghan evacuation. (The Guardian) + Josie Stewart came forward this week during an interview claiming the Civil Service has become “dangerously politicised”, as well as calling for an external body allowing Civil Servants to safely … Read more

Background Protect supports Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) whistleblower Josie Stewart’s call for the introduction of an option for government whistleblowers to raise concerns with someone outside of the Civil Service. Stewart, with another FCDO whistleblower, exposed the chaos at the FCDO during the fall of Kabul that left tens of thousands of Afghans unable to access the UK. They ... Read more

Your weekly dose of what's up in whistleblowing. Whistleblowers at the heart of government. A GCHQ employee who was fired after publicly asking for the resignation of the then cabinet secretary Simon Case in the final weeks of Johnson’s government is bringing a claim under whistleblowing legislation.  (The Guardian). + A new complaint made by ... Read more

Your weekly dose of what's up in whistleblowing.  Momentum is building behind allegations against the Police and its regulator. Trisha Napier has exposed how IOPC senior managers interfered in an investigation into police gross misconduct investigation into stop and search of black athlete Bianca Williams stop and search. (BBC, Protect) + Met Police commissioner Sir ... Read more

Background This is a statement from Trisha Napier, IOPC whistleblower and Protect, the UK’s leading whistleblowing charity.  Trisha Napier was the lead investigator for the investigation into whether Metropolitan Police officers committed misconduct when they stopped and searched two black Olympic athletes, Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos in July 2020.  Trisha in a Newsnight interview, states ... Read more

Leading editors, lawyers, journalists, publishers and other experts call on the UK Government to back meaningful anti-SLAPP protections to defend media freedom A model anti-SLAPP Law drafted in consultation with leading media lawyers and industry experts on behalf of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition (of which Protect is a member) and supported by over 70 leading ... Read more

The Whistleblowing International Network (WIN), of which Protect is a member, and 17 whistleblowing protection, anti-corruption, and human rights organisations, have written to Australia’s Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus, to express deep concern about the ongoing criminal prosecution of Australian whistleblowers Mr Richard Boyle and Mr David McBride and to urge him to urgently take steps to restore ... Read more

We reproduce below Jonathan Taylor's press release Today, the Monaco Appeal Court threw out the appeal by the Monegasque Public Prosecutor, against the Investigating Judge’s decision to end the investigation against SBM whistleblower, Jonathan Taylor. His case attracted major international media coverage when he was detained under house arrest in Croatia in 2020 for almost a ... Read more

“When We Speak”, which premieres on 2 November at 6:30pm at the Curzon, Soho, follows the incredible stories of the women who risked everything to expose injustices committed by some of the most powerful people on earth. Nominated for the prestigious Raindance Film Festival, the film is directed by Tas Brooker with involvement from Protect, ... Read more

Protect research finds a lack of consistency in how regulators deal with whistleblowers who approach them with concerns  Protect has produced a best practice guide for regulators, based on their review of reports made by Prescribed Persons, regulators who are legally required to publish annual reports on the number of whistleblowing disclosures made to them ... Read more