Mary Robinson MP calls on the Prime Minister to consider reforming the law on whistleblowing
The Chair for the APPG on Whistleblowing, Mary Robinson MP, called on the Prime Minister today to ask Greater Manchester Police to urgently review its internal culture and for reforms to be made to the law on whistleblowing.
In Mary’s question to the Prime Minister during PMQs, the failings of Greater Manchester Police, which led to the force being paced in special measures and the resignation of its Chief Constable, were used to illustrate what the Manchester Evening News recently described as "a culture of denial and secrecy” in the force.
Asking the Prime Minister to support her calls for the internal culture of Greater Manchester Police to be urgently reviewed, Mary reminded her fellow MPs that, “after the horrific murder of Sarah Everard, it is crucial that we tackle the cover-up culture.”
Speaking after PMQs, Mary said, “I am delighted that the Prime Minister supports and agreed with what I said in the House today about whistleblowing and about the failings of Greater Manchester Police. An independent review of the internal culture of Greater Manchester Police will bring to the fore the extent of the problems in the force so that we can understand how to rebuild trust and confidence in GMP that is so severely lacking at the moment. Any organisation that is described as having a culture of denial, obfuscation and secrecy needs a root and branch review of its culture, systems and processes and I sincerely hope that Stephen Watson, the new Chief Constable, will appoint somebody independent with the experience to initiate such a review and make urgent recommendations for improvement. This is what local residents deserve and what local representatives expect of such an important part of our public services.
I am also pleased that the Prime Minister acknowledged the vital importance of people, wherever they are, having the confidence to speak up against wrongdoing. At the moment our current legislation only provides an umbrella for whistleblowers who are classified as workers, and I want to change that. All people, whether they are employees of a police force or any organisation but crucially if they are a member of the public, who uncover wrongdoing and blow the whistle should have protection in law. That is why colleagues on the APPG for Whistleblowing and I are working to bring forward new legislation that will support all people who bravely speak up when they find failings in the work place or anywhere else so that we can provide proper processes for people to be able to speak up against crime, corruption and cover-up with confidence.
