Whistleblowers
Blowing the Whistle
If you would like to blow the whistle on an event or issue you feel deserves public scrutiny, here are some guidelines to protect you and your story.
Before you decide to act on something you have discovered, consider the following instructions. They are very important.
- Tell no-one that you are unhappy or intend to whistle blow. Office or workplace gossips may give something away without thinking, so if you really have to tell someone be certain you can trust them.
- Do not email information from work or home email addresses. Hidden details in your online correspondence will give away your identity, and many organisations routinely scan email for keywords. Use a machine in a cyber cafe to create an email account for all whistleblowing correspondence (but beware of CCTV coverage near the machine).
- Do not make telephone calls from your work place about whistle blowing. Employers keep computer records and can easily trace telephone numbers.
- Documentary evidence is critical in exposing and proving wrong-doing. Photocopy all documents that may be relevant.
- Act as you always do. Don’t give yourself away by doing or saying new or different things. Be the same person you always were.
- Contact shepwayvox[at]riseup.net and follow the guidance above very carefully.
Click the image to watch the video on the Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) website.