Peers back police whistleblowers
5th March 2002
The Government is expected to come under strong pressure today (Tuesday, 5 March) to back honest police officers who challenge corrupt colleagues and prevent miscarriages of justice. Home Office ministers are facing a cross-party amendment - moved by Lords Borrie (Lab) and Phillips (LibDem) - to the Police Reform Bill to guarantee the police full whistleblowing protection.
The amendment will give police officers the right to go to an independent tribunal and claim compensation under the Public Interest Disclosure Act if they are victimised for blowing the whistle. Unless amended, the Bill only allows officers to bring an internal grievance when they are victimised for speaking up. Michael Smyth, Chairman of Public Concern at Work - the whistleblowing charity - criticises this arrangement as “all bark and no bite”.
Citing the finding from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary that officers had ‘little or no confidence’ in grievance procedures, Mr Smyth warns that “we cannot expect officers to question wrongdoing by colleagues if the law will not back them up”. Calling on the Government to accept the amendment, Mr Smyth says “Until the public can see that honest officers are supported over the dishonest few, they will put their confidence in the police on hold”.