Past Cases Review

The fact that abuse has ever happened within our Diocese is a matter of deep shame.

The Past Cases Review (PCR2) is a comprehensive safeguarding review undertaken across churches and key institutions within the Diocese of Rochester. It is part of a national process initiated in 2019 being carried out across the Church of England.

All local independent diocesan reports - including the Diocese of Rochester's - have now been submitted to the national Project Management Board (April 2022).

A national overview report is being drafted for approval by the National Safeguarding Steering Group. Once this process is complete, a publication date will be identified and shared with the dioceses – it is anticipated this will be in early Autumn 2022

Find out more on the Church of England website

Purpose of the Past Cases Review

The purpose of the Review, has been to help find out whether all known cases of concern about the behaviour of clergy and church officers towards children and vulnerable adults have been considered, risk assessed and dealt with appropriately.

We are pleased to report that the Past Cases Review (PCR2) process for the Diocese of Rochester has now been concluded.

The report compiled by the Independent Reviewers has been completed and signed off by Bishop Simon and the Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel Dr Liza Thompson, and submitted to the national PCR board.  

We thank everyone in the parishes who contributed to this important process. It is anticipated that the national report will be published sometime in 2022.

Sharing a concern about a past experience

It is still vitally important that anyone who has a concern about something they have experienced in a church or any diocesan related activity, now or in the past, feels able to come forward.

There may be incidents or concerns that have not been brought to light before, so the Past Cases Review has been an important chance for us to learn about those matters.

Although the formal Past Cases Review process is now complete, we always want to hear from people who have a concern about something they have experienced. That opportunity will never end.

You will be heard. You will be taken seriously.

We want to encourage anyone who may have information about church-related abuse to know that there are people you can talk to and you will be taken seriously.

How to get in contact

Whether your experience is current or non-recent, whether you are concerned about the safety of a person right now – perhaps a child or vulnerable adult – or whether you want to highlight poor safeguarding practice, we would encourage you to get in touch.

• You can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding team on 01634 560 000. You can find their details here
• Understanding that this may not feel safe for those with a lived experience of abuse, a dedicated telephone helpline, operated independently by the NSPCC, is also available on 0800 80 20 20. Your contact will be treated in the strictest confidence and you can remain anonymous if you wish ** Please note that as of 31 December 2021, this phone line will no longer be operation.
• If you are in immediate danger, please call 999.

We appreciate that being made aware of this Review, or the highlighting of high-profile cases of church abuse in the media, may be a trigger, for many different reasons, for people living with a history of abuse within the church.

If you or someone you know needs support regarding an incident of church-related abuse, there are several helplines that can offer support:

Safe Spaces is an independent service supporting survivors of church-related abuse. This independent service is run by the charity Victim Support and funded by the Church of England together with the Catholic Church in England and Wales and the Church in Wales. It is free to access via telephone - 0300 303 1056 (answerphone available outside of opening times), email - safespaces@victimsupport.org, or web-chat via www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk/

Additional help can also be found via one of these dedicated services:

• ThirtyOne:Eight: 0303 003 11 11
• Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS): 08088 01 03 40
• National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC): 0808 801 0331
• National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC): 0800 80 20 20
• Other organisations offering support can also be found on the national Church of England website here

Key Contacts