Read safeguarding news and views from the National Safeguarding Team.

NEWS / Statement from National Safeguarding Adviser.

NEWS / Statement on the sentencing of Peter Ball.

Work is underway in all 42 dioceses on the Church of England's Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2) with a key focus on listening to survivors who want to come forward. The Church was criticised for not including their voices in the original PCR 2007/8 as shown in an independent scrutiny report, published in 2018.

Following the conviction of Robert Bailey last year and criticism of the reference supplied by the Bishop of Carlisle, James Newcome, the National Safeguarding Team, NST, carried out an investigation into the bishop’s conduct according to House of Bishops guidelines.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 has been amended to include a new section 22A which expands “Position of Trust” offences to include anyone who is coaching, teaching, training, supervising or instructing in a sport or a religion. 

NEWS / The independent report into the Church's handling of its 2007-9 Past Cases Review, PCR, has been published today

NEWS / Archbishop Commissions Independent Review of Peter Ball Case

The meeting was chaired by the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop, Jonathan Gibbs, who welcomed members and congratulated Mark Steadman (currently Archdeacon of of Stow and Lindsey  in Lincoln Diocese) on his appointment to Chief of Staff at Bishopthorpe and welcomed new NSSG member Mark Humphries, Oxford Diocesan Secretary. Mark Steadman will continue on the NSSG in his new role.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Lincoln have met together to pray and discuss next steps following the conclusion of the clergy disciplinary process instigated after the Bishop’s suspension in May 2019 and subsequent investigation.