The aim of this policy is to encourage staff to report suspected wrongdoing as soon as possible, in the knowledge that their concerns will be taken seriously and investigated as appropriate; It provides guidance as to how to raise those concerns and reassures staff and that they can raise genuine concerns without fear of reprisal even if they turn out to be mistaken.

The policy may be used to deal with specific concerns which are in the public interest and specifically where a staff member has a reasonable belief that one of the following has occurred or is likely to occur:

➢ A criminal offence.

➢ Failure to comply with legal obligations.

➢ Financial or non-financial maladministration or malpractice/abuse or impropriety

/misconduct or fraud.

➢ Academic or professional malpractice.

➢ A risk to the health or safety of any individual.

➢ Environmental damage.

➢ A miscarriage of justice /Injustice

➢ Attempts to suppress or conceal any information relating to any of the above.

If in the course of investigation of any concern raised in relation to the above matters appears to the investigator to relate more appropriately to a grievance, bullying or harassment, or discipline, those procedures will be appealed where appropriate, instead of or in addition to this procedure.