Whistleblowing, Alleged Corruption and Police Investigations

The request was successful.

Dear Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

I am currently undertaking a study relating to alleged corruption and whistleblowing within local authorities across England and Wales.

Can you therefore answer the questions below:

1. Please state the number of reported whistle blowing cases involving staff and officers of the authority for 2010, 2011 & 2012,

2. Please state the number of reported whistle blowing cases involving elected members for 2010, 2011 & 2012

3. Please state the number of cases where wrong doing was found against a member of staff or elected member for 2010, 2011 & 2012

4. Please state what actions were taken eg: dismissed for gross misconduct,fraud, theft,a final written warning, a verbal warning, referred to the Standards and Ethics Board etc

5. Has the Local Police Force ever investigated any members of staff or officers or elected members for allegations of fraud, corruption, misappropriation of funds, acceptance of bribes or gifts contrary to the Bribery Act 2010 or theft?

6. If so what was the outcome of any such investigations

7. Has the local Police Force ever removed property, equipment or data from any of the Local Authority premises within the last 3 years

8. Please suply a copy of both your Whistleblowing Policy and your anti Bribery Policy

Yours faithfully,

Dave Thompson

Freedom of Information, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Thompson,

Thank you for your email received on 25 July 2013 requesting information about Whistle blowing, Alleged Corruption and Police Investigations.

I have recorded your request for information under reference F2013.07.1932.

This has been passed to the relevant service and you will receive a response by 22 August 2013, as required by law.

In line with guidance published by the Information Commissioner’s Office, the council may make a charge for the provision of information – for example in order to cover the costs of postage (in line with the relevant postal charges) or charges for printing and copying (which will reflect photocopying charges levied by the council’s public libraries).

You will be informed if a fee is to be applied before information is to be provided.

Kindest regards,

Freedom of Information
Knowsley MBC

[email address]

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Freedom of Information, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

3 Attachments

Dear Mr. Thompson,

 

Further to your recent Freedom of Information request, the answers to your
questions are set out below:

 

1. Please state the number of reported whistle blowing cases involving
staff and officers of the authority for 2010, 2011 & 2012,

           

There were 6 cases in the calendar year 2010, 3 cases in 2011, and 5 cases
in 2012.  In 8 of these cases, there was no substance to the allegation.

 

2. Please state the number of reported whistle blowing cases involving
elected members for 2010, 2011 & 2012

 

There was one reported whistleblowing case involving an Elected Member in
the calendar year 2012, although this allegation did relate to an incident
several years previously.  There were no cases reported in 2010 or
2011.       

 

3. Please state the number of cases where wrong doing was found against a
member of staff or elected member for 2010, 2011 & 2012

 

It is unclear what is meant by the term "wrong doing".  If this is meant
to refer to criminal activity, then this was found in one case in the
calendar year 2010.  If "wrong doing" takes into account relatively minor
misconduct, this was found in a further two cases in 2010, one case in
2011, and two cases in 2012.

           

4. Please state what actions were taken e.g.: dismissed for gross
misconduct, fraud, theft, a final written warning, a verbal warning,
referred to the Standards and Ethics Board  etc

 

2010 cases      Two employees resigned, and one was dismissed and
prosecuted for theft.

2011 case       A Final Written Warning was issued.

2012 case       A Final Written Warning was issued in one case (where the
employee concerned was also demoted).  In the other case, a reminder was
issued to the employee in relation to the Council's Officer Code of
Conduct.

 

5. Has the Local Police Force ever investigated any members of staff or
officers or elected members for allegations of fraud, corruption,
misappropriation of funds, acceptance of bribes or gifts contrary to the
Bribery Act 2010 or theft?

 

Yes.

 

6. If so what was the outcome of any such investigations

 

It would take some time to compile information in relation to "every" case
that the police has "ever" investigated since the inception of Knowsley
Council in 1974.  However, if the question is related specifically to the
number of reported whistleblowing cases in the calendar years 2010, 2011
and 2012, then one employee was prosecuted for theft.

 

7. Has the local Police Force ever removed property, equipment or data
from any of the Local Authority premises within the last 3 years

 

The Council has voluntarily provided information/data to support police
investigations.  Other than this, the answer is no. 

 

8. Please supply a copy of both your Whistleblowing Policy and your anti
Bribery Policy

 

The three relevant Council Policies are attached.  Members of the public
can report concerns via a clear link on the Council's web site.

           

All whistleblowing allegations received by the Council are referred to an
Investigation Panel which is responsible for ensuring that allegations are
considered properly and investigated thoroughly (if appropriate).  The
majority of allegations made are anonymous referrals and on occasion are
made maliciously. 

 

Regards,

 

Freedom of Information

Knowsley MBC

 

[1][email address]

 

 

 

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Dear Freedom of Information,

Thank you for your response however can you please clarify the following:

In question 7 you did not make any reference to equipment can you please clarify if Merseyside Police have ever removed Computer Equipment from any of the councils premises? If so what departments and what investigations or allegations did these relate to?

Did the Police remove data from this equipment in order to assist any investigations.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Thompson

Freedom of Information, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Thompson,

I have forwarded your response to the Compiling Officers for them to deal with.

Kindest regards,

Freedom of Information
Knowsley MBC
Archway Road
Huyton
Knowsley
Merseyside
L36 9UX

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Freedom of Information, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Thompson,

Freedom of Information request F2013-07-1932

We have looked into your request for information about Whistleblowing, Alleged Corruption and Police Investigations, and our response is shown below.

The answer to your question is No. Merseyside Police have not removed computer equipment from any of the councils premises in the last three years.

If you need further information please see contact details below.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information
Knowsley MBC
Archway Road
Huyton
Knowsley
Merseyside
L36 9UX

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Dear Freedom of Information,

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

Dave Thompson