Responsibility for highlighting contraventions of the rule of law, injustice and maladministration is vested, at least partially, in the statutory post of monitoring officer, which chief executives are required to designate. The appointment is, however, an internal one, with line responsibility to the chief executive.
In almost 15 years of observing a succession of courageous people putting their head above the parapet to report malpractice, it is deeply disappointing to note that seldom do they end up with confidence that the system welcomed their courage, or even delivered justice. The independence whichwhistle-blowers crave in the investigation of their disclosures deserves better.
The time has come to consider changing the legislation to enable the appointment of external monitoring officers free from the social networks and internal pressures of local authorities.
Cameron Rose, Conservative Councillor for Southside & Newington
Limited view
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