Contents
- Introduction to the anti-fraud, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption policy
- Regulatory framework – scope of policy
- Responsibilities
- Anti-money laundering
- Expectations
- Reporting fraud, bribery and corruption
- Client identification procedure
- Record keeping procedures
- Risk assessment, management and internal control
- Gifts and hospitality
- Proactive anti-fraud initiatives
- Raising concerns (whistleblowing)
- Annex1 – Bexley’s procedural and regulatory framework
- Annex2 - statutory framework
- Annex3 - London Borough of Bexley - code of conduct
- Annex4 - anti-fraud, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption policy
12. Raising concerns (whistleblowing)
The Council is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, probity and accountability. In line with that commitment the Council encourages elected Members, employees and others with serious concerns about malpractice, wrongdoing, fraud and corruption or any other aspect of the Council's work to come forward and voice those concerns, without fear of recrimination, victimisation or harassment.
A separate detailed Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure has been reviewed by the Monitoring Officer (and is available on the Bexley Council’s intranet page), in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. This Policy is applicable to all employees and contractors working for the Council.
The Council recognises the following principles:
Whistleblowing
- the need for the rapid investigation of concerns and effective resolution of these concerns
- protection from any recriminations, victimisation or harassment for those reporting their concerns
- malpractice or wrongdoing in the Council's services will not be tolerated
- respect for the confidentiality of the person reporting their concerns
- The Council will view very seriously anyone who makes false or malicious allegations
- those aware of malpractice or wrongdoing, and unreasonably fail to take appropriate action to stop or report it, become implicated themselves in the action
The arrangements for reporting concerns are as follows:
| Who | How? |
|---|---|
| Members | report their concerns to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services or the Deputy Director of Democratic and Legal Services in his/her role as Monitoring Officer |
| Staff | report their concerns in accordance with the Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure |
Alternative reporting options include:
- via the Council’s website there is a form available to report fraud or corruption for any services for which the Council is responsible. This could be reporting someone who is suspected of committing benefit fraud or injury fraud or reporting a Council employee or contracted representative for fraud or corruption
- in exceptional circumstances there are other routes available for staff to raise concerns as follows:
For Housing Benefit related fraud National Benefit Fraud Hotline:
- Telephone 0800 854 440 or Textphone 0800 328 0512, Report benefit fraud.
For all other fraud and corruption concerns please report to: counter.fraud@bexley.gov.uk