Survey Shows FTSE 250 Take Up Of Whistleblowing Hotlines Grows Despite Poor UK Corruption Rating

Nov. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- New research commissioned by SAI Global shows how an increasing number of FTSE 250 companies (75%) are using whistleblowing hotlines to help stamp out unethical and corrupt behaviour. The results show a 26% increase in the use of hotlines for raising concerns compared to the same survey in 2007.  However, these positive results come at a time when perceived levels of corruption in the UK are at an all time low – according to Transparency International’s 2010 Corruptions Perceptions Index (CPI).  

“We were very encouraged to see that the FTSE 250 is being more pro-active about introducing whistleblowing procedures and hotlines, but it is clear that despite this drive towards a more compliant culture, companies still need to go some way in convincing the rest of the world that they are serious about stamping out corrupt practices.” commented Iain McLeod, Head of SAI Global Compliance EMEA.

Another significant finding in the survey, conducted by Middlesex University, is that companies are now making their whistleblowing procedures and hotlines more accessible to third parties and contractors. Iain McLeod added: “The enforcement of the UK Bribery Act, and in particular the guidelines for Adequate Procedures relating to third parties, are putting increasing pressure on companies to ramp up anti-bribery and corruption initiatives. We would strongly recommend that all businesses review their policies and procedures for managing third party relationships to ensure that the actions of all individuals operating on behalf of a company are in line with expectations and values.”

Download a copy of the full research report: Whistleblowing procedures in the UK top 250 FTSE firms at the SAI Global website: http://www.saiglobal.com/compliance/knowledge-center/whit...

# # #

With offices in more than 25 countries and on 4 continents, SAI Global provides legal, compliance and risk management professionals with a broad range of technology enabled programs and consulting services that facilitate good governance and awareness of compliance, ethics and policy issues. This includes risk and culture assessments; complete Code of Conduct services and training; award-winning, innovative online training and awareness; training needs assessments; risk- and region-specific online databases, regulatory alerts and newsfeeds; and GRC workflow solutions.