Whistleblowing in the Police Service: developments and challenges

Abstract

This article addresses the significance of recent attempts to enhance protections available to police whistleblowers. It considers the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and its compliance with article 10 European Convention of Human Rights following amendments introduced by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. The article reviews the current developments to support whistleblowers in the police service who might raise concerns before drawing on evidence of whistleblowing policies from a number of forces across the UK to illustrate the wide and inconsistent variances in approach. The article concludes by identifying suggestions which are of relevance to organisations across the public sector.