BOLTON Council has introduced a "Whistleblower's Charter" to encourage worried staff to shop workers without fear of victimisation.

For the first time the authority has printed a firm framework showing how allegations of malpractice -- and those who make them -- will be treated.

A report by Peter Wilson, director of central services and closely involved in drawing up the whistleblowing policy, told councillors that employees may have kept tight-lipped about concerns because they feared harassment.

The dangers of such a culture were vividly illustrated this week by damning reports into a Carlisle psychiatric hospital and Oxford Heart Centre which revealed a catalogue of cruelty, incompetence and poor management.

In both cases concerns raised by whistleblowers had been ignored and the procedures for dealing with them were heavily criticised.

But the council's new guidelines are designed to ensure that similar problems can never arise in the town hall.

The document says: "This policy is intended to encourage and enable employees to raise serious concerns within the council rather than overlooking a problem or blowing the whistle outside."

Mr Wilson said: "As long as they raise something in good faith there's no fear of any reprisals. With this policy everybody will understand exactly how any complaint will be handled.

The policy covers the reporting of illegal acts, misuse of public funds, health and safety risks, corruption and sexual or physical abuse of council clients.

It promises whistleblowers:

Protection from victimisation or harassment.

A letter from their personnel officer within 10 days of concerns being raised acknowledging the issues and detailing the investigation process.

The overriding concern in examining allegations will be the public interest.

Public sector workers' union Unison has been consulted about the new policy.

A Unison spokesman said: "The union is broadly supportive of proper procedures for staff to express their concerns without recrimination.

"If conducted well, it will be a positive step forward for the council and something we welcome."