Please see the executive summary of our local report here:
The Bishop of Winchester has written to all his parish incumbents, to check their records to ensure that all safeguarding concerns have been reported to the appropriate authorities. This is part of the Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2), ordered by the Archbishops’ Council to ensure that our churches and church related activities are as safe as possible for children and vulnerable adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information about PCR2 please visit the Church of England website.
Find out more about page – Link opens in a new windowSupport to survivors of abuse
A key part of PCR2 is to make sure the voices of survivors are involved throughout the process.
Individuals who wish to make representations to the PCR2 process or who wish to come forward with information or make disclosures regarding church-related abuse should contact Jackie Rowlands, Safeguarding Manager, Winchester Diocese on 01962 737317 or by email: pcr2@winchester.anglican.org
However, realising that this may not feel safe for those with a lived experience of abuse from within the church, a dedicated telephone helpline – 0800 80 20 20 – operated independently from the Church of England by the NSPCC has been set up.
Anyone can use the helpline to provide information or to raise concerns regarding abuse within the Church of England context, whether they are reporting issues relating to children or adults or seeking to whistle blow about poor safeguarding practice.
Learning from the past
In 2007, the Church of England commissioned a Past Cases Review which sought to look at the handling by the church of child protection cases. This involved the independent scrutiny of the files of clergy and church officers to identify any person presenting an ongoing risk to children and young people which had not been acted on appropriately. Following a 2018 review of the effectiveness of the first Past Cases Review, a second review, known as PCR2 is taking place in every diocese across the Church of England over the next year.
It is important that all known cases of concern about the behaviour of clergy and church officers towards children and vulnerable adults have been considered and dealt with appropriately. A key part of PCR2 is to ensure that there are no outstanding and unmanaged safeguarding risks to children, young people and vulnerable adults posed by church officers. The review will seek to ensure that the support needs of known survivors of church abuse have been considered and met. Parishes have a key role to play in PCR2.
During 2020, an independent reviewer will be considering all cases of concern relating to the behaviour of clergy and church officers towards children and vulnerable people known to the Diocese.
More information about PCR2 is available from the Church of England website.
