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This is not an emergency service. If someone is in danger, call 999. We can't act quickly, and we can't give legal advice.

Why it matters

Most of what we publish comes from public records. But records only show what someone chose to write down. People inside organisations often see the gap between the official line and what really happens. When that gap affects the public, it deserves to be seen, checked and put on the record.

How to reach us safely

Before you send anything

• Use your own phone or computer, on your own network. Not a work device, and not work Wi-Fi or VPN. Employers can often see what's done on their kit.
• Never send from a work email account, and don't forward work emails to yourself.
• Ordinary email isn't fully private. Messages can be read in transit or kept on servers. For anything sensitive, wait for our Proton or Signal details, or talk to Protect first (below).
• Think about what a document reveals. Names, file details and who had access can point back to you. Tell us what you have before you send it, and we'll talk it through.
• Don't break the law to get information. Only share what you already have access to.

Know your rights

In plain English:

• The law protects workers who speak up about wrongdoing in the public interest, such as crime, danger to health and safety, damage to the environment, or a cover-up. You shouldn't be sacked or treated unfairly for it.
• Who you tell matters. Your safest routes are your employer, a lawyer, or the official regulator for the issue (a "prescribed person"). Going to the media, including us, is much harder to protect: gov.uk says that in most cases you'll lose your whistleblowing rights.
• Gagging clauses can't stop a protected disclosure. A confidentiality clause can't stop you making a protected disclosure to the right person.
• Official secrets are different. If you're a Crown servant or government contractor handling protected information, the Official Secrets Act has no public-interest defence.
• Get free advice first. Protect, the UK whistleblowing charity, gives free, confidential advice on 020 3117 2520.

Explore the detail

• The law: the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 added Part IVA (sections 43A to 43L) to the Employment Rights Act 1996. It covers England, Wales and Scotland; Northern Ireland has its own whistleblowing process.
• Prescribed persons (s.43F): a disclosure to a regulator on the government's list is protected if you reasonably believe the issue is within its remit and that the information is substantially true. The list is kept on gov.uk.
• Wider disclosures, including the media (s.43G): tougher conditions. You must reasonably believe it is substantially true, not act for personal gain, and it must be reasonable in all the circumstances. You must also meet one of these: you reasonably fear unfair treatment if you raise it with your employer or a regulator; there's no relevant regulator and you fear evidence will be hidden or destroyed; or you've already raised it with your employer or a regulator.
• Exceptionally serious failures (s.43H): similar tests, but for wrongdoing of an "exceptionally serious nature"; who you tell is still weighed in deciding if it was reasonable.
• gov.uk guidance: "If you report your concern to the media, in most cases you'll lose your whistleblowing law rights." You can give your name to a prescribed person and ask for confidentiality.
• Official Secrets Act 1989: there is no statutory public-interest defence. The Law Commission recommended one in 2020; it hasn't been enacted. If this could apply to you, get legal advice before contacting anyone.
• Protect advice line: 020 3117 2520, free and confidential. Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5:30pm; Wednesday and Friday 9:30am to 1pm (as listed by Protect, checked 9 Oct 2026).

Explorer Pointers: gov.uk: Whistleblowing for employees (opens in new tab) · gov.uk: Who to tell and what to expect (opens in new tab) · gov.uk: List of prescribed people and bodies (opens in new tab) · Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (opens in new tab) · Employment Rights Act 1996, Part IVA (opens in new tab) · Official Secrets Act 1989 (opens in new tab) · Protect: free whistleblowing advice (opens in new tab)

Our promise

• We never publish your identity. Not your name, your role, or anything that points to you.
• We verify documents before using them. Nothing goes on the site until it has been checked.
• We strip personal data from anything we publish, including names of people who aren't the story.
• We can't give legal advice. For that, talk to Protect or a lawyer first.
• We don't pay for information. Ever.

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