The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced an update to British Racing’s anonymous reporting service to cover four critical areas:
- the Welfare of racehorses
- protecting the Integrity of the sport
- addressing Safeguarding and welfare concerns
- maintaining Equality for everyone
Download the posters by clicking the image below:
The update aims to give those who work in, bet on and follow the sport more options to speak up and report potential breaches of the Rules of Racing, or practices which concern them, thereby ensuring that the BHA can react in a more agile and efficient manner to those concerns.
Previously run as the “Racestraight” service for reporting specific integrity concerns, RaceWISE will take the form of a free phoneline (08000 852 580) and online form for anyone who has concerns about potential wrongdoing across any area of British Racing.
The service will continue to be run in partnership between the BHA’s integrity department and Crimestoppers, one of the country’s leading independent charities and anonymous reporting services.
Posters advertising the service will be sent out to racecourses shortly to be displayed in both public and restricted areas, with racecard and racecourse TV graphics also being created. The service will also be publicised to those working in racing through the relevant representative bodies.
Head of Integrity at the BHA, said:
“We are here to protect the honest majority and ensure that those who seek to gain an unfair advantage or act in a manner which could damage the integrity of our sport are held to account.
“If there are people out there who hear, or become aware, of any wrongdoing in British Racing we want them to feel confident that they can report it safely and securely. We will do all we can to protect the identity of those who contact us.
“This is not confined to possible integrity threats but also how both our equine and human participants are treated, including around areas such as welfare, safeguarding and equality.
“The launch of RaceWISE broadens the scope of our previous reporting services. RaceWISE should also mean that we can be more strategic in terms of how we process and investigate any relevant intelligence that we receive, in order to keep racing fair and clean.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Crimestoppers and hope that anyone who has any concerns in relation to potential breaches of the Rules of Racing will both trust and utilise this service.”
Mark Hallas, Chief Executive of the independent charity Crimestoppers said:
“Transparency and openness are key to ensuring horseracing remains a trusted sport for those involved professionally and for the public to continue to enjoy.
“We know, however, that there is the potential for someone to break the rules which is why, as a charity, we are keen to offer this enhanced whistleblowing line.
“Maybe you are aware of allegations of cheating, illegal or unfair betting, or have concerns about the welfare of an a participant, equine or human, who works in the sport?
“If so, please call 0800 0852 580 or visit www.britishhorseracing.com/RaceWISE.
“We will pass your Information to the BHA for them to investigate. You can choose to stay anonymous, or you have the option to leave contact details so that the BHA can speak to you again. If you do, your details will always remain confidential.”
Notes to editors:
1. The full suite of RaceWISE artwork can be viewed here.
2. About Crimestoppers:
- Crimestoppers is an independent charity helping communities to ‘Speak up. Stay safe.’
- Our 0800 555 111 telephone number and website crimestoppers-uk.org gives people the power to speak up and pass on information about crime 100% anonymously. In over 30 years, we have always kept this promise.
- Alongside our national campaigns, we have hundreds of volunteers across the UK who help us promote our services to those that need to hear about them.
- Every region of the UK has a Crimestoppers team responsible for raising awareness of our charity and running local campaigns about issues that affect their area.
- Around 10 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.
- Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over 2.1 million actionable calls, resulting in more than 149,000 arrests and charges, over £138 million worth of stolen goods have been recovered and over £351 million worth of illegal drugs have been seized.
In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK’s Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful, with over 4,300 arrests to date.
