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The Dean of Guernsey has welcomed the recent review into the Church of England's safeguarding practices and he has made a renewed commitment to ensure local "churches are safe places for all".
The Church of England carried out a second Past Case Review over the past three years as a follow up to a previous PCR.
The first review was carried out because of the number of Church of England clergy and church officers who had been charged with sexual offences against children nationally. Concerns were raised following that PCR1 about the way the review had been carried out, so it was decided to repeat it.
While work on the second review was delayed because of the covid pandemic, a total of 316 files were reviewed - with very few found to be missing, and a few concerns were raised about the way data is held.
No new cases of concern were found through the review work across the Channel Islands.
PRC2 found that: "The cases where poor safeguarding practice was found related to the older historical cases, which took place before the current infrastructure and policies were put in place".
Pictured: The Known Cases List was drawn up during PCR2.
At the end of the review, a Known Cases List was drawn up with 23 cases placed on it.
17 of these cases were linked to safeguarding concerns relating to children and six related to vulnerable adults.
Each KCL entry has a corresponding report, written by the Independent Reviewer, which is stored within the electronic safeguarding folder.
The details of these cases have not been published, however some information relating to the cases of concern were in redacted form.
Pictured: Some of the information contained within the PCR2 was redacted.
In response to the review results, The Very Reverend Tim Barker, The Dean of Guernsey, said he welcomed the work and would be ensuring the recommendations are implemented.
“Past failures to provide good safeguarding practice have caused damage to individuals," he said. "That is why we in the Deanery of Guernsey are committed to the provision of safeguarding officers in every parish, and to provide regular and appropriate training and support for all who work with children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
"I welcome the review of past cases in Guernsey, and our renewed commitment to work with both victims/survivors and the statutory and voluntary organisations in Guernsey, so that we can implement the best possible practice and ensure that our churches are safe places for all.”
The PRC2 was published this week, and can be read in full HERE.
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