CBI hands new information to police after report of ‘serious criminal offence’

The scandal-hit CBI, Britain’s biggest employers’ group, says it has passed fresh information to the police relating to a report of a “serious criminal offence”.

The body said it was “liaising closely” with officers as it remains mired by allegations of historic workplace misconduct.

The allegations culminated in director general Tony Danker being sacked earlier this month and three other current employees being suspended.

The CBI has made clear previously that Mr Danker was not the subject of the most serious allegations, including rape, that had been made to date.

Nevertheless, he hit out at the organisation’s handling of the affair in an interview earlier this week, claiming he had been made the “fall guy” for the CBI’s failings as an employer going back before his tenure.

While he admitted several instances of making colleagues feel “very uncomfortable”, he has denied any suggestion of wrongful physical contact and complained that his reputation has been wrongly trashed.

The CBI responded by saying the decision to dismiss him was made on strong legal advice and he was free to seek redress if he felt poorly treated.

Mr Danker has been succeeded as director general by Rain Newton-Smith, the organisation’s former chief economist.

Sky News has reported how she was parachuted into the role after chairman Brian McBride told members he was unsure whether the lobby group could have avoided collapse if it had run a lengthy process to find a successor.

The total number of people being investigated by City of London Police is not known.

The Guardian reported earlier this month that it had been approached by more than a dozen women claiming they had been victims of sexual misconduct.

One alleged she had been raped at a staff party in 2019 but had not told the police.

The CBI did not disclose what alleged incident its action related to.

The statement read: “Late yesterday afternoon, the CBI was made aware of additional information relating to a report of a serious criminal offence.

Read more from business:
Tesla signals more price cuts ahead as demand for electric cars wanes
Capita admits customer, staff and supplier data may have been accessed by hackers

“We have passed that information immediately to the police, with whom we are liaising closely and who have asked us not to comment further on potentially criminal matters.

“Recognising the need for confidentiality, we urge anyone, including the media, who has further information in relation to any alleged offence to also report that to the police.”

The statement added that the law firm investigation it commissioned to examine several areas including its handling of the scandal would report back imminently.

“The board will be communicating its response to this and other steps we are taking to bring about the wider change that is needed early next week,” the statement concluded.