Business
CBI scandal: Police ‘not able to progress’ with almost all allegations
Police investigating allegations of serious misconduct, including sexual assault, at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) say they are “not able to progress further criminally” with 11 claims looked at to date.
Sky News has learned that City of London Police currently has just one matter that officers are continuing to examine.
The business lobby group’s very future was threatened when, last spring, the Guardian newspaper published a series of historical sexual misconduct claims by staff and former workers.
Its report in April that a second woman had made a rape allegation prompted swathes of the CBI’s membership to either suspend their cooperation or leave the organisation as it scrambled to get a grip on the crisis.
The body later overhauled its governance and HR functions in a bid to help win back trust after admitting failures in its treatment of workers with grievances.
It was confirmed on 20 April that City of London Police had approached the CBI and begun an investigation into a number of allegations.
In a response to questions put to the force by Sky News, Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Waight said of its progress: “The City of London Police takes all reports of sexual misconduct, as well as violence against women and girls, extremely seriously.
“Since the first media reports, we have proactively engaged with the CBI about alleged sexual misconduct involving their staff.
“We have one remaining matter that is under investigation.
“We have investigated a number of cases that at this stage are not able to progress further criminally.
“However, we would ask anyone with any information regarding any crimes either at CBI premises or involving CBI employees based in the City of London to please call 020 7601 2222.”
It was announced on Monday that Tony Danker had secured an undisclosed sum in settlement of his case against the CBI. Pic: PA
It issued the statement hours after it emerged the CBI’s former director general, Tony Danker, had agreed an undisclosed settlement with the body relating to his dismissal last year following allegations about his behaviour in the workplace.
Mr Danker brought the case over the reasons the CBI had given for his dismissal.
They are unrelated to the allegations printed in the Guardian about the behaviour of other individuals.
City of London Police confirmed it was not investigating Mr Danker for any alleged offence.
His successor at the CBI, Rain Newton-Smith, has focused her efforts on re-establishing the lobby group’s credentials ahead of the looming election while battling a funding crunch.
The self-styled “voice of business” says it currently has a 170,000-strong membership base compared to a pre-crisis level of 190,000.
Sky News has contacted the CBI for comment.