Criminal Justice: Whistle-blowers
Justice
2:45 pm
Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)
7. asked the Minister of Justice what protection and rights are offered to whistle-blowers within the criminal justice system. (AQO 2230/11-15)
David Ford (Alliance)
I can confirm that the criminal justice agencies comply with the Public Interest Disclosure (Northern Ireland) Order 1998. Protections for whistle-blowers are in place as required under that legislation, which ensures that employees making protected disclosures in good faith in the circumstances described in the legislation are protected against dismissal and other detriment.
Criminal justice agencies have internal arrangements for raising issues of concern, and I strongly encourage members of staff to use those when any such issues arise. However, the legislation also allows for protected disclosure in some circumstances to an external body.
Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)
I thank the Minister for his answer and welcome his encouragement to staff. He will be aware that the former chief executive of the Office of the Police Ombudsman resigned in order to blow the whistle on interference in that office. We now find that senior PSNI members have tried to discourage trade union representatives from blowing the whistle on the policy of rehiring police officers, sometimes within days of their retirement.
Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)
In light of the Minister’s earlier answer, does he have any comment to make on that?
David Ford (Alliance)
I thank Mr Murphy for that point. In the context of the 1998 order, he needs to be careful as to how exactly he defines “whistle-blowing”. Where individuals have sought to raise matters outside the established structures, I am not sure that they necessarily qualify as whistle-blowers, and some of the wider points that the Member makes seem to be more about policy matters than whistle-blowing.
Robin Swann (UUP)
Does the Minister accept that much more support could be provided to staff who work in front line services in the criminal justice system?
David Ford (Alliance)
I am not sure what Mr Swann is particularly hinting at. I believe that the current arrangements around whistle-blowing are adequate, but if he has particular concerns and wants to write to me, I will follow them up.