Whistleblowing in local councils

A survey of confidential reporting and whistleblowing procedures in local authorities in England and Wales has found that 98% of councils have a procedure in place or were in the course of establishing one.

The report, A survey of confidential reporting/whistleblowing procedures in English and Welsh local authorities, was prepared for the Employers' Organisation for Local Government by the Centre for Research in Industrial and Commercial Law at Middlesex University.

It found an overwhelming majority of authorities saying that they had consulted with unions over the introduction of the policy. Although more than half of those who already had one had invoked it, the research found that there were deficiencies in the procedures. For example, a third gave individuals no information on independent sources of advice and one in four had no systems in place to formally advise employees of their right to blow the whistle.

For more information email the Employers' Organisation at [email protected] or tel: 020 7296 6570.