Diocese of Chichester

Safeguarding: Past Cases Review (2) Publication this week.

Along with every diocese in the Church of England, we have taken part in the Past cases Review 2 (PCR2): a thorough review of the files of all clergy and others who worked with children or vulnerable adults and of all known cases of abuse in all our parishes, involving all forms of abuse of both children and vulnerable adults.

The Bishop of Horsham, Ruth Bushyager, the Diocesan lead for Safeguarding said: “We employed a team of Independent Reviewers to scrutinise the handling of every known case, and over 1,500 personal files of clergy, lay readers and others with substantial contact with children or vulnerable adults, and their report was submitted earlier this year to the National Church PCR2 Management Board The fruits of their work, along with that of colleagues in all other dioceses, has been submitted to the national Church whose findings are published today.

“Both diocesan and national teams have worked to keep consultation with survivors, and the care of survivors, as core elements to the process. We are deeply thankful to the survivors who have given their input into PCR2, at significant personal cost.

“As with all dioceses, we have received a number of recommendations from the Independent Reviewers, which we have already been working to implement since the submission of our report. From today you will be able to read both the national report, and an executive summary of our own diocesan report on our website.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to all those who made the process possible in and on behalf of the Diocese of Chichester, in particular our parishes who worked hard to identify all matters of concern, the safeguarding team, and the reviewers themselves.

“Our commitment to building safe communities remains as strong as ever along with our sense of deep regret to all victims and survivors of abuse”.

Click here for the National Report

Click here for the Executive Summary of our Diocesan Report

Click here for the link to the Diocesan Survivor Care Strategy used for PCR2

Click here for the link to the Recommendations and Diocesan Responses

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