Whistleblowers have made 12 allegations of fraud against Merton Council officers in the past year, a council report has revealed.

Whistleblowing activity has led to the prosecution of an agency employee stealing £757 from a resident and "improved controls" after a corporate services officer was accused of using council assets for personal use.

It has also led to greater controls after a report uncovered a culture of all staff in the environment and regeneration department leaving early.

March 2014: Whistleblowing allegations on the rise at Merton Council

There were 23 whistleblowing allegations made by council workers in the past year, which compares to 24 the previous year and 13 the year prior to that.

Of the 23 allegations made in the past year, five have resulted in disciplinary action, prosecution or improved controls, 10 were dropped due to insufficient evidence and seven are subject to on-going investigations.

On-going investigations into whistleblowing claims include a community and housing staff member accused of falsifying a manager's signature to obtain a loan and an environment and regeneration employee misusing a disabled parking badge.

Allegations of an officer using his position to get someone on a degree course and another officer verbally abusing an officer from another council did not result in disciplinary action due to insufficient evidence.

The report was made published on Merton Council's website ahead of last night's general purposes committee meeting.

Whistleblower? Call us in confidence at 020 8722 6391 or email newsdesk@wimbledonguardian.co.uk