The report published on the 19th December 2023 examines the whistleblowing data in a 3 year period of government departments, executive agencies and other government organisations that primarily employ civil servants.
The report finds, that whistleblowing arrangements in government require further improvement with slow and inconsistent progress being made by departments and other civil service bodies. The report also establishes four recommendations for government to improve its arrangements for whistleblowing.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO said:
“Whistleblowing is a vital organisational protection. It provides a way for organisations to hear concerns about serious wrongdoing that may not otherwise be discovered, and a number of recent high-profile cases underline why it’s important that effective arrangements are in place.
Significant challenges remain for government in learning from past cases, improving the experience of whistleblowers and empowering people to come forward with their concerns.”
To read the full report, click here.