About Isabelle 'Issy' Vine

My name is Issy Vine. I’m a former Metropolitan Police communications officer (999 call handler), whistleblower, writer, and campaigner for accountability and justice in public institutions.

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How it began

In April 2023, during a routine shift in the control room, I witnessed behaviour so shocking it changed everything. A colleague, while handling a report from a rape survivor, said “she sounds like a slut.” Later, he made a xenophobic comment and even referred to Clapham as “Sarah Everard turf” in my ear whilst taking a live 999 call about nothing related or similar — invoking the murder of a woman abducted by a serving Met officer. He also followed my journey after work. 

I reported the misconduct immediately. The colleague was dismissed for gross misconduct. But months later, after an appeal, he was reinstated even with my allegations still proven. The Met claimed the original panel had been “too influenced by VAWG/Casey report, you can have any opinion you want in the Met,” and drew back from the dismissal. 

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That moment shattered my faith in internal processes. I couldn’t stay in a role where I might have to work alongside someone who had publicly demeaned survivors — or trust a system that would protect them. Through all the failings of me trying to escalate my concerns my mental and physical health deteriorated rapidly and the Met prioritised business needs over my welfare. So I resigned in December 2024. 

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Why I created Isabelle’s Law

My experiences exposed a deeper problem: the rules, policies, and protections in place to guard whistleblowers — especially in policing and public services — are broken or inadequate. I saw how the very systems that should protect us often shield the powerful. I realised that speaking out wasn’t enough — the law itself needs change.

Isabelle’s Law is born from this fight. It’s my effort to translate lived experience into reform: a legislative proposal that shifts accountability, strengthens protections for truth‑tellers, and ensures misconduct is taken seriously, not buried.

 

What I stand for

• Truth over silence: No one should be punished for raising genuine, serious concerns.

• Justice over reputation‑management: Institutions must prioritise integrity and public safety above self‑preservation.

• Support over isolation: Whistleblowers shouldn’t be left to fight alone — they deserve protection, support, and dignity.

• Change from legislation: We need binding law, not empty promises or toothless guidelines.