Whistle Blowing Guidelines

What is Whistle Blowing?

Whistle blowing is an early warning system. It is about revealing and raising concerns over misconduct or malpractice within an organisation or within an independent structure associated with it.

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protects those who raise legitimate concerns about specified matters. It makes provision about the kinds of disclosure that may be protected and the circumstances in which disclosures are protected. This policy is therefore intended to comply with the Act by encouraging everyone in bowls to make disclosures about fraud, misconduct or wrongdoing in the sport and anyone within it, without fear of reprisal, so that problems can be identified, dealt with and resolved quickly.

Principles

● You should be aware of the importance of eliminating fraud or wrongdoing, and report anything that you become aware of that is illegal.

● You will not be victimised, subject to detriment or dismissed for raising a legitimate matter under this procedure.

● Covering up someone else’s wrongdoing is also a disciplinary offence. Never agree to remain silent about a wrongdoing, even if told to do so by someone in authority.

● You will not be penalised for raising a qualifying disclosure even if it is not upheld, unless the complaint was both untrue and made in bad faith.

● It is not the responsibility of the person reporting the disclosure to investigate – it is the responsibility of the respective NGB (BE, EIBA, ESMBA, BCGBA and EBF) to investigate.

● Confidentiality should be upheld in line with legislation and government guidance. Confidentiality will be maintained during the process to the extent that it is practical and appropriate in the circumstances.

● Maliciously making a false allegation is a disciplinary offence.

Objectives of the Policy

All club and county members, committee members, coaches, volunteers and parents/carers should have an understanding of whistle blowing.

All club and county members, committee members, coaches and volunteers should know where to access this Policy for whistle blowing and to follow it when anything is reported. All players and parents/carers should be aware of the policy of the NGB, club or county and of what action should be taken when legitimate concerns arise.

Individuals should be assured that they will be supported when concerns are reported.

Qualifying Disclosures

NGBs would expect their members or participants to report any of the following:

● A criminal offence (including fraud)

● A failure to comply with a legal obligation

● A miscarriage of justice

● The endangerment of an individual’s health and safety

● Damage to the environment

● Deliberate concealment of information relating to any of the above

Where the nature of the disclosure is not included in the above list, it should be made by way of the relevant NGB’s Grievance Procedure and/or Safeguarding Policies and not under the Whistle Blowing procedure.

Your belief must be reasonable, but it need not be correct. It might be discovered subsequently that you were in fact incorrect, but you must be able to show that you held the belief in good faith and that it was a reasonable one to hold in the circumstances at the time.