Tower Hamlets Council has approved an updated whistleblowing policy, aiming to promote transparency and accountability within the local authority.
The decision was made during a meeting of the Tower Hamlets Audit Committee on Monday, 28 July 2025, where members reviewed and discussed key governance and financial matters. David Dobbs, head of internal audit, presented the updated policy for approval, highlighting that it incorporated best practices and legislative changes.
The updated policy is intended to create an environment where employees and external stakeholders feel safe to report concerns about potential wrongdoing. Councillor Mufeedah Bustin inquired about reports made under the policy and whether the committee was missing any information. Dobbs clarified that this would form part of future anti-fraud reports.
Key features of the updated whistleblowing policy include:
- Protection for Whistleblowers: Employees who raise genuine concerns under the policy will be protected from harassment or victimisation.
- Confidentiality: The council aims to treat all concerns with confidentiality, protecting the identity of the whistleblower where possible.
- Clear Reporting Mechanism: A dedicated email address, whistleblowing@towerhamlets.gov.uk, has been set up for reporting concerns.
- Commitment to Action: The council commits to investigating all concerns raised and taking appropriate action.
Dobbs noted that the current employment rights bill, making its way through parliament, may introduce further provisions in 2026, such as including sexual harassment as a protected disclosure.
