The government has launched a consultation on whether people who report serious economic crime should be eligible for financial rewards, alongside possible reforms to the legal protections available to whistleblowers.
The consultation, published on 12 October 2026, seeks views on the design of a proposed Serious Fraud Office (SFO) incentive scheme. It also examines the operation of the whistleblowing framework under the Employment Rights Act 1996 and associated criminal offences.
What is being considered?
Officials are seeking views on how a potential SFO financial reward scheme should work, including its eligibility rules and safeguards. The exercise also considers options for changing existing protections for people who report wrongdoing in the workplace.
The government has not introduced the proposed SFO reward scheme. The consultation does not establish a right to payment, set a final reward amount or guarantee that a scheme will be adopted.
Could overseas whistleblowers qualify?
The consultation says individuals could potentially qualify for rewards regardless of where they live or where the information originated, provided they meet the proposed scheme’s eligibility criteria. This is not the same as extending the SFO’s investigative jurisdiction worldwide.
The existing Employment Rights Act whistleblowing framework applies in England, Wales and Scotland. The SFO has jurisdiction in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not Scotland. The consultation distinguishes those separate legal arrangements.
Why is the government considering rewards?
The proposal follows a commitment in the government’s 2025 Anti-Corruption Strategy to examine incentives and support for people who report economic crime. The strategy called for assessment of the feasibility of financial incentive schemes following the independent review of disclosure and fraud offences.
The SFO already receives confidential disclosures about serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption. Its published whistleblower information explains the current reporting arrangements, which are distinct from the financial incentive scheme now under consultation.
What happens next?
The government will consider responses before deciding whether and how to proceed. Any final scheme, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements or legislative changes would require further decisions. The launch of a consultation should not be presented as the introduction of cash rewards.