10/09/2024
Nazir Afzal, the former chief crown prosecutor, known for his work in the Rochdale grooming gang cases and tackling gender violence has been appointed as the next independent chair of the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Panel (NSP). Mr Afzal, a practising Muslim, and founder chair of the Catholic Church's safeguarding body in England and Wales, will take up the role during September. The appointment was made through an independent recruitment process.
The NSP was set up in 2014 to provide vital reference and scrutiny from a range of voices, including survivors, on the development of policy and guidance. Its first independent chair was appointed in 2018. The work of the NSP is separate but complementary to work on wider independence in Church safeguarding.
The NSP’s main aims are to:
- Provide high level strategic advice and guidance on policies and practice in safeguarding
- Promote good safeguarding practice across the Church of England
- Support a survivor perspective
- Their work does not include involvement with any cases
Speaking on his appointment, Nazir Afzal said: “I am pleased to take on this important role to lead the continuing work on scrutinising and providing challenge to the Church of England’s safeguarding governance, particularly its policy and guidance. I have always been committed to campaigning for those whose voices are not heard and from my 30-year career I know the challenges faced by institutions who can seem faceless to those who have been harmed by them. The Church of England has a presence in every community across the country and with that comes huge responsibility. I look forward to playing my part in holding the Church to account by bringing my professional experience to the work of the Panel.”
The Bishop of Stepney, Joanne Grenfell, the Church of England’s lead bishop for safeguarding, said: “I am delighted that Nazir Afzal has agreed to take on this role and with his great experience will provide vital scrutiny and challenge on our safeguarding policies and practice, with his work with the NSP. As we continue to work out details around wider independence, following the General Synod vote in July, the work of the NSP will ensure our work is held to account and I look forward to working with Nazir as he leads the NSP.”
For the past year, General Synod member Kashmir Garton and survivor representative Jane Chevous acted as interim chair and vice-chair of the NSP respectively while a permanent chair was appointed to succeed Meg Munn.
Notes
Biography
Nazir Afzal OBE was Chief Crown Prosecutor for NW England and formerly Director in London. He was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners and most recently, National Adviser to the Welsh Government. During a 30 year career, has prosecuted the most high profile cases in the country & advised on many others and led nationally on several legal topics including Violence against Women & Girls, child sexual abuse, and honour based violence. He had responsibility for more than 100,000 prosecutions each year. His prosecutions of the so-called Rochdale grooming gang and hundreds of others were groundbreaking and changed the landscape of child protection.
He is the Chancellor of the University of Manchester and incoming Chair of the Lowry Theatre, is a tutor for several leadership programmes in the public and private sector and has received a range of high-profile awards for his work.
Other roles and work:
- Strategic Adviser to the People’s Powerhouse
- Former member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
- Patron of the Association of Safeguarding Partners
- Member of the National Police Chiefs Ethics Committee
- First ever independent Chair of the Catholic Church’s Safeguarding Agency.
- Advisor to Bikal Technologies (UK) Ltd., who develop Artificial Intelligence and 5G product, largely using research from universities to transfer into a commercial product.
- Former Chair of the Independent Review of Culture of London Fire Brigade and tne Nursing & Midwifery Council
- Trustee of WOW (World of Women) Foundation
- His memoirs “The Prosecutor” published in 2020 are currently being adapted for a British multipart drama. His new book “The Race to the Top” was published in Sept 2022. His BBC R4 ‘Desert Island Discs’ programme was the 3rd most listened to in 2021.