Barristers subjected to bullying, harassment or sexual harassment and their confidants will not be obliged to report to the Bar Standards Board (BSB), under a protocol agreed this week between the BSB and Bar Council
This means the Bar Council’s commissioner for conduct can offer support to victims and complainants without triggering an obligation to report to the BSB.
Commissioner Dame Maria Miller said this would ‘help address the barriers to reporting identified in the Harman review’.
The protocol establishes the procedure for the referral and handling of such reports, and recommends making a report where ‘reasonable suspicion’ exists.
