UK Government Launches Consultation on Whistleblowing Framework Reform and Proposed SFO Financial Rewards Scheme for Economic Crime Reporters

The UK government published a consultation on 12 October 2026 seeking views on two distinct but related matters: the operation of the existing whistleblowing framework under the Employment Rights Act 1996, and the design of a proposed Serious Fraud Office (SFO) financial incentives scheme that would reward individuals who report economic crime. The consultation is jointly sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the Attorney General's Office, the Home Office, and the SFO. The existing whistleblowing framework under the Employment Rights Act 1996 applies in England, Wales and Scotland. The SFO, by contrast, has jurisdiction in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland. Under the proposed incentive scheme, individuals could be eligible for a financial reward regardless of where they are located or where the information originated, provided they meet the scheme's eligibility criteria. The consultation also covers associated criminal offences connected to the proposed SFO scheme. This signals a shift toward a US-style financial rewards model for economic crime informants, a mechanism long used in the United States to incentivise reporting in securities fraud and tax enforcement contexts. The consultation closes to responses in due course, and the government is inviting submissions via an online portal and dedicated email address. The move arrives at a politically charged moment. The SFO has been under heightened scrutiny following the LIBOR prosecution review, and the Burnham government's Budget preparations have added focus on fiscal credibility and tackling economic crime. A robust whistleblowing regime sits squarely within that agenda.

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