Sunday, 26 October 2025
The number of people coming forward with concerns about misconduct in the United Kingdom’s financial industry has increased notably in the third quarter of 2025. According to the latest figures from the national financial regulator, more than four hundred reports were submitted between July and September, reflecting a steady rise in activity compared with both the previous quarter and the same period last year.
The regulator also confirmed that several hundred of the cases were reviewed and closed during the three-month period. Only a small portion of these investigations led to formal enforcement measures or restrictions on certain firms or individuals, but a larger share prompted follow-up action, such as targeted supervision, information requests or on-site reviews. A smaller group of submissions, although not directly connected to immediate harm, were retained for future monitoring and analysis.
Most of the people providing information chose to include their contact details, which allowed the regulator to engage further and clarify details of each case. The majority of disclosures were filed through the authority’s online reporting platform, which has become the preferred route for individuals to raise concerns safely and discreetly. While the regulator cannot reveal the identities of whistleblowers or the companies involved, its quarterly summaries show how these reports are used to guide oversight and identify emerging risks within the market.
The continued rise in reporting has been interpreted by analysts as a sign of growing trust in the system and greater awareness of regulatory protections for those who speak out. Compliance experts say this trend suggests that financial firms are operating in an environment where internal accountability is more closely scrutinised, and where whistleblowing is increasingly seen as a legitimate part of good governance. Some professionals point out that firms which treat internal reporting merely as a formal requirement, rather than as an early warning tool, risk facing more serious reputational and legal problems later on.
Looking ahead, the next update on whistleblowing trends is expected early in 2026. Market observers will be watching whether the upward pattern continues and how the regulator translates the information into practical enforcement or supervision. For the financial sector, the figures serve as a reminder that openness and transparency are not just regulatory obligations but essential foundations of market integrity.
Source: CIJ EUROPE analysis based on official data from the UK Financial Conduct Authority – Whistleblowing Quarterly Data Q3 2025
