Umeå municipality demands that security company CRD Protection hand over all whistleblowing reports received through the municipality's whistleblowing function – including cases that whistleblowers have withdrawn out of fear.
The conflict between the municipality and the company has escalated since CRD Protection chose to terminate its agreement with the municipality. CRD claims that the municipality has prevented the whistleblowing function from operating correctly.
Company warns of legal violations
CRD Protection has stated that they cannot hand over cases to the municipality without violating several laws, including the whistleblower protection act. The company has directed particular criticism at several top officials in Umeå municipality.
According to Västerbottens-Kuriren, a top lawyer hired by the municipality writes that "Umeå municipality does not allow whistleblowers who want to withdraw their reports to have their data deleted."
Municipality disputes breach of contract
Umeå municipality disputes CRD Protection's claim that the company has the right to terminate the agreement. The municipality instead argues that it is CRD that has breached the contract.
The municipality has hired a top lawyer in the dialogue with the security company to pursue its position in the dispute.
Background
CRD Protection originally won a procurement to manage Umeå municipality's whistleblowing function. The service is intended to give employees and others the opportunity to report misconduct in the municipality without risking retaliation.
The conflict is fundamentally about how whistleblower protection should work in practice and what rights both whistleblowers and the municipality have regarding the handling of sensitive information.