To think they should not be attempting to identify/expose the identity of whistleblowers?

[Greencloudsinthesky]

I work in a school. I contacted the DfE anonymously (there is an option to do it anonymously on the online contact form when you select the “disclosure in the public interest” option) back in June with genuine concerns about the school and MAT (Multi Academy Trust), the concerns are really serious and one was of a criminal nature as well.

Last Friday I had the police at my door saying they needed to speak to me, the school and the MAT had reported that they believed the whistleblower statement to be “malicious communications” and that the school and the MAT believed they had been “targeted” (the police didn’t elaborate on why the school/MAT believe they have been targeted). Turns out that the DfE had other anonymous whistleblower statements about the school/the MAT and the MAT accused me of apparently writing them all! For the avoidance of doubt, I did not write the other whistleblower statements. So now the concerns about the school are no longer being investigated just because the MAT believes they’ve been targeted when in fact people are just raising genuine concerns. The school would have known it was me who went to the DfE as when the DfE contacted the MAT about the concerns they apparently realised that it was similar to the concerns that I tried (unsuccessfully) to whistleblow internally prior to contacting the DfE.

Aibu to think it’s not right to try and identify/expose anonymous whistleblowers like this?

I genuinely know nothing about the other whistleblower statements that the DfE have received and they were not submitted by me. Apparently the DfE contacted the MAT to say how many statements they had, what the concerns were and that they were investigating and then the MAT went to the police and said they feel targeted and tried to blame it all on me.

So instead of the concerns actually being investigated the school and the MAT are just trying to identify and expose the whistleblowers or just try and falsely blame them all on me.

The police said that the DfE didn’t contact them. The school/MAT contacted the police to say they feel targeted and then the police contacted DfE and asked for the whistleblower statements. That’s what I understood from what the police officers said.

This is outrageous, the DfE should not have given them the whistleblower statements! How do the DfE expect teachers to feel comfortable whistleblowing if they won’t protect whistleblowers and keep the information confidential! Are you in a union OP? Might be worth speaking to them.

I don’t understand why you are saying it’s outrageous for the DfE to have given the whistleblower statements to the school and the police? The OP clearly says that it was the police who asked the DfE for the statements, the OP doesn’t appear to be suggesting that the DfE willingly gave the statements to the police. As for the school, the DfE have to give them to the school, the school have to be given a right to respond to any allegations that are being made against them I agree that the OP should contact her union but I can’t see that the DfE appears to have done anything wrong.

I anonymously reported my manager when I worked in a nursing home and was told unless I said who I was they couldn't look into it. No way was I saying my name!

I am going to speak to my union tomorrow.

This is correct. The police said the MAT/school reported to the police and then the police contacted DfE and requested the whistleblower statements which DfE then provided to the police.

Wow. Did they investigate it or not in the end? Hope they did investigate.

Maybe a solicitor.

The facts are: you made a statement; other people made statements. If the DfE gave all the statements to the police then they know there are multiple people who have made multiple disclosures (on one or multiple subjects).

There was no coordination, there will be no evidence of coordination. So you need to get the police and DfE back on track that there is/are an issue/issues that need to be investigated. And they are spaffing their time up the wall talking to you.

As your rep will tell you

You’re protected by law if you report any of the following:

• a criminal offence, for example fraud
• someone’s health and safety is in danger
• risk or actual damage to the environment
• a miscarriage of justice
• the company is breaking the law, for example does not have the right insurance
• you believe someone is covering up wrongdoing

You can take a case to an employment tribunal if you’ve been treated unfairly because you’ve blown the whistle.
You can get further information from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), Citizens’ Advice, the whistleblowing charity Protect or your trade union.
If you reported your concern anonymously, you may find it harder to argue that your unfair treatment was as a result of your whistleblowing.
You must raise any claim of unfair dismissal within 3 months of your employment ending.
You must notify Acas if you want to take your case to an employment tribunal.

I whistleblew in a school setting - I ended up having to resign for the sake of my mental health.

The other person involved (manager) is still in post and has slandered me to my ex colleagues.

I couldn't afford to sue, I wasn't in a union (within probation) and so I was hung out to dry.

That said I'd do exactly the same again initially but I'd blow it up in the Press afterwards!

Sorry I didn't see your reply.
Not really. They ended up suspending her for a different reason though to do with finances and she left in the end thank god!

It’s incredibly hard to whistleblow so well done OP. You will have to be strong and steel yourself now. You should be protected by your union who should appoint you legal representation.

At our local hospital they managed to force out an excellent surgeon who whistleblew. 😡

I was also a whistleblower in a school setting. I was managed out and left due to mental health.

What is mat??

Why write accroynms people won't know.

I'm absolutely appalled by what's happened op.
Trying to alert others to wrong doing is extremel brave and whilst I understand sometime things could be malicious surely they should investigate first on the promise they are not.

Absolutely awful.

OP literally says what a MAT is in her first post 🙄

What an awful situation.

Absolutely, whistleblowers should keep their anonymity. Otherwise, people will end up not reporting stuff or being managed out and the problem continues.

People wonder how people like Jimmy Saville managed to operate - well, because of this type of thing I'm guessing.

That’s ridiculous! Whistleblowers are supposed to be protected - unfortunately it doesn’t always happen that way

Yanbu. And I deal with whistleblows and even where we think /suspect there is a malicious element we still fully investigate before reaching any conclusions. I wouldn't want to miss uncovering serious wrongdoing.

Bloody hell!!! That’s outrageous.

Thanks for your integrity and for putting the young people and health of the school first.

So sorry you're going through this hope you can get a fair resolution and the concerns are investigated properly.

OP literally says what a MAT is the first time she uses it...

OP, this is absolutely shocking. Definitely speak to your union and you should also get in touch with DfE to explain you are now being harassed by the police as a result of whistleblowing, and enquire what protections they have in place to prevent this.

Oh come on! Most even medium sized towns these days have a MAT (Multi Academy Trust) - it's a commonly used acronym that the majority of people will be familiar with. Ridiculous to have a go at OP when it would have took seconds to google "mat school"

OP this is really disturbing. I don't think you can be charged with anything in terms of malicious communication because you were genuinely whistleblowing and presumably there's evidence supporting the criminal concerns.

The attitude of the school is very frightening. How are you being treated at work at the moment?

How do they define "malicious communication"? Presumably not threatening them with violence or be blackmail. So, if it they are alleging it to be malicious is the onus on them to prove your allegations are not true? Surely the police would know this? Oh that's right it's the British police....

I've whistleblown twice in the NHS (because of bad practice putting patients at risk) and twice I've had to leave my role. I was even told by a senior manager that she has learned that the best course of action in such cases is to do nothing and let it blow over.
Worst of all was when I reported a child to social services (I was involved with the child professionally) and SS immediately removed the child and told the family who had reported them. I had to deal with a family member waiting outside my workplace by my car, who then made death threats.
I honestly don't think I'm strong enough to report anything ever again.

I am so shocked to read this.

Death threats for doing the right thing and try to protect a child? So unfair and must have been terrifying.

When you read about something awful happening to a child and the Jimmy Saville stuff, people say "but how could this happen?"

THIS is how.

So it's going to keep happening.