Should the UK pay whistleblowers to expose fraud?

The recently published Fisher Review has reignited the debate.

With fraud accounting for 44% of surveyed crime in England and Wales, yet only 1% of reported cases resulting in a criminal justice outcome, the review recommends that the SFO should be able to financially reward whistleblowers who provide valuable intelligence.

Supporters argue this could help tackle the UK's fraud problem, stem the flow of intelligence to overseas regulators, and accelerate complex investigations.

Critics point to the risks: undermining internal reporting channels, encouraging speculative reports, and creating challenges around witness credibility.

For businesses, the message is clear: ensure your Speak Up channels are trusted, accessible and effective. Employees should feel confident raising concerns internally before looking elsewhere.

Whether or not the Government adopts the recommendation, the direction of travel is clear: whistleblowers are becoming an increasingly important part of the fight against economic crime.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fraud-in-the-digital-age