Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The Church of England should make changes and improvements to the way in which it responds to safeguarding complaints (whether related to allegations of abuse, or a failure to comply with or respond to the Church's safeguarding policies and procedures) to: disapply the 12-month time-limit for all complaints with a safeguarding element brought under the Clergy Discipline Measure; reintroduce the power to depose from holy orders where a member of the clergy is found guilty of child sexual abuse offences; introduce a mandatory 'code of practice' to improve the way that safeguarding issues are handled across the Clergy Discipline Measure and capability procedures, including a framework for responding to issues that do not amount to misconduct; make clear that penalty by consent must never be used in relation to such complaints; ensure confidentiality agreements are not put in place in relation to such complaints; and ensure that those handling such complaints are adequately and regularly trained.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse reported in October 2022 that the Church of England stated in March 2021 that it endorses proposals to replace the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 with a new set of provisions (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). The inquiry noted that these provisions would include a disciplinary process, a mandatory code of practice, and the removal of the 12-month time limit for safeguarding-related complaints (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). It also recorded that the church intended to bring forward legislation to reintroduce the power to depose from holy orders as soon as practicable, while the National Church Institutions' Legal Office had taken steps to introduce new training for diocesan complaint handlers (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).

The Church of England should create the role of a diocesan safeguarding officer to replace the diocesan safeguarding adviser. Diocesan safeguarding officers should have the authority to make decisions independently of the diocesan bishop in respect of key safeguarding tasks, including: escalating incidents to the National Safeguarding Team, statutory authorities and the Charity Commission; advising on the suspension of clergy in safeguarding matters; investigating and/or commissioning investigations into safeguarding incidents; risk assessments and associated plans for church officers and members of the congregation; and supporting complainants in safeguarding-related issues. Diocesan safeguarding officers should be employed locally, by the Diocese Board of Finance. The diocesan safeguarding officer's work should be professionally supervised and quality assured by the National Safeguarding Team. The National Safeguarding Team should set the broad requirements for anyone applying to be a diocesan safeguarding officer (adapting as required the existing requirements in respect of diocesan safeguarding advisers). It should be enshrined in policy that those who are volunteers and who do not follow the directions of diocesan safeguarding officers should be removed from responsibility of working with children.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recorded that the Church of England stated in March 2021 that it would amend Canon C30 and associated regulations to establish diocesan safeguarding officers with independent decision-making authority (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). The Inquiry noted in October 2022 that the Church also planned to pilot a regional supervision model and expected revisions to its policy on allegations against church officers to take effect by June 2022 (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).

The Church in Wales should make clear that the operational advice of provincial safeguarding officers must be followed by all members of the clergy and other Church officers. It should be enshrined in policy that those who are volunteers and who do not follow the directions of provincial safeguarding officers should be removed from working with children.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse reported in October 2022 that the Church in Wales stated in January 2022 that its timetable for adopting updated procedural guidance was delayed (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). It had previously stated in April 2021 that it introduced a new Disciplinary Tribunal cause of action and would revise policies to make clear that provincial safeguarding officers' operational advice must be followed (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). It also stated in April 2021 that it would revise procedural guidelines to establish that volunteers who do not follow directions should be removed from working with children (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).

The Church in Wales should introduce record-keeping policies relating to safeguarding, complaints and whistleblowing. These should be implemented consistently across dioceses. The Church should develop policies and training on the information that must be recorded in files. The Church should provide its provincial safeguarding officers with the right to see personnel files of clergy, office holders, employees or others if concerns and complaints are raised about child protection or safeguarding.

The Church in Wales stated in January 2022 that its timetable for adopting updated procedural guidance had slipped, according to an update published by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in October 2022 (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). In that October 2022 update, the inquiry recorded that the church had stated in April 2021 that its national online safeguarding case management system launched in January 2020, and that it agreed guidance was needed to make clear that provincial safeguarding officers may inspect lay personnel files as well as clergy files (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).

The Church of England and the Church in Wales should agree and implement a formal information-sharing protocol. This should include the sharing of information about clergy who move between the two Churches.

As reported by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in October 2022, the Church of England announced in June 2021 that the updated edition of the House of Bishops' handling of Clergy Personal Files policy supports the recommendation on data sharing with the Church in Wales and clarifies the lawful basis for processing clergy data (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). The Inquiry also recorded that the Bishops of the Church in Wales approved a corresponding clergy personal files policy taking effect immediately in July 2021, aiming to achieve the full sharing of personnel files between the two churches (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).

The Church of England, the Church in Wales and statutory partners should ensure that information-sharing protocols are in place at a local level between dioceses and statutory partners.

The Church of England stated in March 2021, as summarised by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in October 2022, that it would develop template information-sharing agreements for dioceses to adapt and use with statutory partners (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). It also stated that a proposed agreement with the police was being reviewed by all parties, with work expected to conclude by December 2021 (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). The inquiry also reported that the Church in Wales stated in April 2021 that discussions were continuing regarding coordinated national conversations with other statutory partners (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).

The Church in Wales should introduce independent external auditing of its safeguarding policies and procedures, as well as the effectiveness of safeguarding practice in dioceses, cathedrals and other Church organisations. Audits should be conducted regularly and reports should be published. The Church of England should continue independent external auditing of its safeguarding policies and procedures, as well as the effectiveness of safeguarding practice in dioceses, cathedrals and other Church organisations. Audits should continue to be conducted regularly and reports should continue to be published.

In March 2026, Marsha De Cordova, representing the Church Commissioners, stated that an independent safeguarding audit programme had reviewed the National Safeguarding Team and 22 dioceses, with 17 reports published, remaining reports due soon, and diocesan audits scheduled to run until early 2028 (Marsha De Cordova, Mar 2026). Previously, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recorded in October 2022 that the Church of England had committed to five-yearly audits, while the Church in Wales planned to audit casework and establish external reviews (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).

The Church of England and the Church in Wales should each introduce a Church-wide policy on the funding and provision of support to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse concerning clergy, Church officers or those with some connection to the Church. The policy should clearly set out the circumstances in which different types of support, including counselling, should be offered. It should make clear that support should always be offered as quickly as possible, taking into account the needs of the victim over time. The policy should take account of the views of victims and survivors. It should be mandatory for the policy to be implemented across all dioceses.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse reported in October 2022 that the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England provided an update in February 2022 regarding its Interim Support Scheme for immediate help to victims and survivors, alongside plans for a national redress scheme (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). It also recorded that the Church had stated in March 2021 that its victim support policy was being revised to establish minimum levels of therapeutic support across church bodies, with implementation effective in January 2022 (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).