Scottish audit body promotes whistleblowing
Audit Scotland and Public Concern at Work have joined forces to step up a campaign to persuade more public sector staff to become whistleblowers to combat fraud and danger at work.
Link: Whistle blowing, an accountant’s safety net
Forty thousand copies of new leaflets urging employees: Don’t turn a blind eye have been distributed to local authorities, the police and fire services, further education colleges and NHS trusts.
Audit Scotland spokesperson Bill Magee said: ‘Every public sector organisation needs to take whistleblowing seriously as it can both detect and prevent financial corruption and mismanagement.’
Harry Templeton, PCW Scottish director, said Scotland lagged behind the rest of the UK in recognising the importance of concerned individuals raising bona fide matters of public concern without fear of reprisals.
He said the law was there to protect those raising matters of concern but organisations ought to make internal procedures available.