Treasury disciplinary policy failures linked to tragic death

What's happened

A coroner has found that the Treasury materially contributed to Chloe Moffat’s death by not applying written disciplinary policy during an informal May 19 meeting. Inquest material shows Mrs Moffat, a personal assistant, died by suicide the day after the meeting. The coroner will issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the Treasury and ACAS.

What's behind the headline?

Key takeaways

• The inquest has highlighted a mismatch between informal disciplinary practices and formal policy within the Treasury, which could inform policy reform.
• The coroner plans a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the head of the civil service and Acas, signaling potential systemic changes.
• Reader question: how common are informal fact-finding meetings within government departments, and what protections exist for staff?

What we know now

• The Treasury and its HR policy align with Acas guidelines, yet the coroner found the 19 May meeting did not follow policy because it was informal.
• The consequences for Chloe Moffat were severe, with the family describing a feared job loss and reputational damage.

What happens next

• A Prevention of Future Deaths report will be issued and could prompt reforms across departments.
• Public and parliamentary scrutiny are likely to mount as details of policy gaps emerge.

How we got here

Chloe Moffat, 26, worked as a personal assistant to a Treasury director. In May last year she faced allegations she had shared sensitive information; she died by suicide the following day. The inquest concluded the informal process used was not in line with Treasury policy, prompting calls for formal procedures and safeguarding measures.

Our analysis

BBC Business quotes families and coroners, Independent provides in-depth account, The Guardian reports on broader implications and policy gaps. Direct quotes show the human impact and official responses.

Go deeper

• What changes has the Treasury promised to implement to prevent similar outcomes?
• Will other departments revisit their disciplinary procedures in light of the coroner’s findings?
• How will Acas be involved in enforcing new safeguards?

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