Give protection to record numbers of whistleblowers

SOME 3,000 people called a whistleblowers’ hotline last year in a bid to expose record levels of fraud, corruption and malpractice, The Daily Express can reveal.

They contacted Whistleblowers UK to report wrongdoing in police forces, the NHS, government, financial services and other major institutions and sectors.

Campaigners say existing laws do not protect insiders who witness misconduct in large institutions and want to speak out in a bid to have it stopped.

They believe whistleblowers are likely to be ignored and discredited by superiors and their allegations swept under the carpet.

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But the non-profit group is backing a new Protection for Whistleblowing Bill, which will create a watchdog with statutory powers to investigate malpractice.

Executives who orchestrate a cover-up could face up to two years in jail or a £50,000 fine.

Supporters are also staging the first Whistleblowing Awareness Week in Parliament next week to lobby support for new legislation from MPs and Peers.

Baroness Susan Kramer said her Protection for Whistleblowing Bill will set up an Office of the Whistleblower with statutory powers to investigate wrongdoing.

“Where you have human beings, you will have people who do the wrong thing, and where you have power you will find people and institutions who abuse it,” she said. “Whistleblowers do absolutely crucial work to expose abuse and crime and often face detriment themselves. We’re hoping to change this.”

Georgina Halford-Hall, chief executive of Whistleblowers’ UK, said: “Any member of the public who wants to raise a concern needs somewhere to go.

“They don’t have that now. They have to go to the media who do not have statutory powers to investigate such wrongdoing.

“We’re saying it is time for the Government to do the Government’s work and not leave it to a citizens’ army of wellmeaning professionals and tenacious individuals.”

She said the culture in large companies, charities and public bodies meant senior management went “morally absent” when wrongdoing was uncovered. The new legislation was designed to drive forward a cultural change.

“The power has to sit with the people who can execute it and ensure that those who cover up or retaliate against those who speak out are held to account,” she said.

“Our Bill is revolutionary because what we’ve done is say that in cases where they retaliate, they will be held to account.”