As an employee, I've blown the whistle and pursued a complaint - on two dysfunctional neighbouring local authorities. Both times, in response, I was hit with bogus disciplinary charges which ultimately collapsed. The first time, in 2003, I resigned and left. The second time, which occurred soon after I'd married and had children, I took a settlement payment, signed a compromise agreement and retired. Nobody involved in attempting to crush me was ever disciplined by either employer. The people involved have their reward, moving onwards and upwards. One prominent individual who was suspended from work following high level contract impropriety has been cleared with 'no case to answer' following what looks like a highly suspect investigation. Many others before him were richly paid off, but unlike them, he's been welcomed back into the fold... I chose to resign, not wanting to return to a victimising workplace where bullies and bystanders held sway.

In October 2009, Cheshire West & Chester Council used a gagging clause to prevent me from exercising my Freedom of Information and Data protection querying rights. See Roy Greenslade Guardian article. This lasted for a period of 20 months. Hugh Tomlinson QC made them capitulate in June 2011. Here is a link to Senior Counsel's legal opinion on employers attempting to remove these statutory rights.

I'm now a busy campaigner

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