A ‘playground morality’ which sees whistleblowers as ‘disloyal snitches’ persists in some areas of government, according to cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood.
But whistleblowers have helped expose some of the most serious public service failures and new measures to support them will be rigorously implemented, he says.
Writing in the official civil service blog, Sir Jeremy said: ‘A playground morality persists in some quarters, seeing whistleblowers as snitches, renegades, somehow disloyal, who get the treatment they deserve.
‘On the contrary, civil servants who report wrongdoing and culpable failures should be applauded for their loyalty to a wider principle of public service, and the civil service is committed to giving them the support they really deserve.’
The comments come as new measures take effect following the public accounts committee report on whistleblowing published in August.
In its response the Government agreed with all but one of the committee’s eight recommendations.
Some recommendations have already been implemented in departmental policies. These include provision of detailed guidance for civil servants about how to raise concerns and who to report them to, stronger leadership from departments to reinforce policy on whistleblowing, and regular reporting to departmental boards.
From next month departments will be required to provide protection and support to whistleblowers such as access to legal and counselling services.
There will be clear timescales for reporting to whistleblowers how their complaints are progressing.
Employees found to have victimised whistleblowers will be subject to swift and appropriate sanctions.
