When the Investigator Becomes the Investigated: Peter Spake’s Perspective on Whistleblowing and Trust

For more than 15 years, Peter Spake built his career on the inside of compliance and investigations. His professional life was defined by structure, process, and judgment — leading sensitive investigations across some of the UK’s most complex and high-profile institutions, including policing bodies, global corporates, and regulated organisations. He understood investigations not just as a function, but as a system designed to protect integrity, fairness, and trust.

Then, everything changed.

After a whistleblowing concern was raised, Peter found himself on the other side of the process he had spent his career administering. What followed was a six-month investigation into his own actions — an experience that fundamentally reshaped how he views investigations, organisational justice, and the human impact of compliance systems.

In a candid interview recorded earlier this month, Peter speaks openly about that shift in perspective. What stands out most is not anger or defensiveness, but reflection. He describes the emotional toll of being investigated: the uncertainty, the loss of control, and the quiet psychological weight that comes from knowing decisions are being made about you, largely out of your sight. For someone accustomed to being the investigator, the experience was disorientating - and deeply humanising.

One of the central themes of the conversation is trust. Investigations are often framed as neutral, objective exercises, but Peter highlights how easily trust can erode when communication is limited, timelines are unclear, and empathy is absent. Even when processes are followed correctly, the experience of the subject can feel isolating and punitive. Being investigated is not just a procedural event; it is a personal one.

Peter also reflects on how whistleblowers are treated in practice versus in policy. Many organisations speak confidently about “speaking up cultures,” yet struggle to reconcile this with how investigations unfold once a concern is raised. His experience exposed the tension between protecting organisations and protecting people, and how quickly the balance can tip.

Perhaps the most powerful insight from the interview is how this experience has changed Peter’s approach to investigations going forward. He talks about the importance of fairness being felt, not just documented. About transparency, proportionality, and remembering that behind every case file is a person trying to make sense of a difficult situation. Process matters, but so does dignity.

This is not a story about blame. It’s a story about perspective. About what compliance professionals, investigators, and leaders can only fully appreciate when they experience the system from the inside. Peter’s reflections offer a rare and valuable lens into how investigations actually land on the people involved, and why organisations that genuinely care about ethics and trust must design their processes with that reality in mind.

It’s a conversation that challenges assumptions, invites empathy, and asks an uncomfortable but necessary question: if you wouldn’t want to experience your own investigation process, is it really fit for purpose?

Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlguVKA5ZP0