Chloe Moffat: Dad of woman who took her own life says Treasury failed in its duty of care

Chloe Moffat: Dad of woman who took her own life says Treasury failed in its duty of care

The father of Chloe Moffat, a civil service worker who tragically took her own life shortly after a meeting with her managers, has expressed profound disappointment over the Treasury’s lack of support for his daughter. Chloe, aged 26, served as a personal assistant to a director within the Treasury. She died on 20 May last year after being confronted with allegations that she had shared sensitive confidential information concerning colleagues—accusations she firmly denied.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, David Moffat, Chloe’s father, criticized the Treasury for not accepting responsibility in relation to her death. He described the loss as “devastating” and said it had created “such a big hole in our lives.” According to David, on 19 May 2025, Chloe attended what she believed to be a routine one-on-one meeting with her line manager; however, a senior manager was also present. This was the first indication to Chloe that something serious was afoot.

David recounted how during the meeting, Chloe was confronted with multiple allegations of sharing confidential information. She repeatedly asked whether she would lose her job and requested the presence of a friend, both of which were denied. An inquest held in August later revealed that the Treasury failed to follow its own written disciplinary procedures, which clearly stated that if the allegations had been upheld, a written warning—not dismissal—would have been the appropriate action. Immediately following the meeting, Chloe was locked out of her email account, a move David described as part of the overwhelming “shock and awe” she experienced.

The coroner concluded that the meeting “materially contributed” to Chloe’s death, and David lamented what he described as a complete absence of duty of care from the Treasury. He stated, “There was no safeguarding, there was no support during or after that meeting, from what we’ve seen and what we’ve read. It beggars belief that an organisation that is front and central in our government cannot get it right.” Although he acknowledged receiving a letter from the Treasury’s permanent secretary, James Bowler, and having met him last August, David said he does not believe the Treasury has taken responsibility for their role in the tragedy. He and his wife Anne are uncertain about pursuing further action but seek “redress” and hope that lessons will be learned to prevent similar situations in the future.

A Treasury spokesperson expressed condolences to Chloe’s family and colleagues and stated the department’s commitment to learning from the incident. The spokesperson added that urgent responses to the coroner’s findings were underway, with immediate changes implemented to guidance, support, and wellbeing measures. They also confirmed ongoing engagement with Chloe’s parents to hear their perspectives and update them on the actions being taken

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