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/ 1 February 2021

PCR2: a guide

What is PCR2?

It is another step to making the Church a safer place for all. It stands for ‘Past Cases Review 2’ and is a large-scale independent review of the handling by the Church of safeguarding cases over many years. It will involve a scrutiny of clergy and church officers’ files to identify persons presenting on-going risks to children, adults at risk of harm and domestic abuse.  It will also seek to identify those cases which have not been acted upon appropriately.

The review approved by the House of Bishops will be carried out across all 42 dioceses nationally.

It will be carried out in all parishes in all Diocese in the Church of England.

All Church of England priests have been asked to check their records to ensure that all safeguarding concerns have been reported to the diocesan safeguarding adviser. They are required to complete a form and to make a declaration.  In addition to this independent reviewer work will have be carried out in every diocese and church institution

The objectives are:

  • To ensure all known safeguarding cases have been appropriately identified and managed
  • the needs of known survivors have been considered and supported
  • all identified risks have been assessed and mitigated as far as is reasonably possible

When is the review happening?

The PCR2 was launched by the Church of England in August 2019 The Diocese of London launched the project in an ad clerum from the Bishop of London the Rt Revd & Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally.

Support to Clergy.

Clergy have been asked to review the information held within the parish in order to identify any concerns relating to safeguarding issues in connection to church officers.  This review work is currently underway and may include consulting the worshipping community’s memory to ensure that nothing has been omitted.

To support clergy in this process we have a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which have arisen to date with regards to completing the Appendix A, the method of logging concerns.

We also have included a presentation on the PCR2

Click here to view the FAQs

Click here to view the briefing presentation

Support for Survivors

The PCR2 has a key focus on listening to survivors who want to come forward. The Church was criticised for not including their voices in the original PCR in 2007 so it’s important for us to get this right. Consultation with and advice from survivors of abuse within the church, alongside advice from trauma-informed professionals, is central to the discharge of PCR2.

Within the Diocese of London, we are working in partnership with two survivor organisations; NAPAC and Victim Support to offer anyone who is currently, or has previously experienced any church related abuse, support.  We have developed our survivor strategy which will be added to and strengthened throughout this process in order to learn from our past experiences and be able to offer those coming forward comprehensive support going forward.

Please see our survivor strategy for more information

Click here to view our survivor strategy

Get involved

The Diocese of London is working with a group of survivors, we have organised focus groups and the opportunity for survivors to meet with our independent reviewer.

We have also worked with our survivor groups partners to create a questionnaire which we hope will capture valuable information about survivor experience, their journey through the process of working with the diocese and assisting with any support needs.  This will help us to truly understand and improve our services going forward.  If you would like to help us by providing feedback about your experience with the safeguarding service please click on the link below:

Survivor Experience Survey

If you wish to speak to someone about our services for survivors or to speak with the independent reviewer please contact PCR2@nulllondon.anglican.org

For anyone who would rather not contact the diocese directly, an independent helpline has also been opened for survivors of church-related abuse in the UK, which is operated by the NSPCC:  0800 802020. Anyone can use the helpline to provide information or to raise concerns regarding abuse within a Church of England context

The Church of England has also provided further help for survivors. Please view this document. 

You can also contact the Truth Project which offers victims and survivors of child sexual abuse the chance to share their experiences and be heard with respect.

It is part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The Inquiry was set up because of serious concerns that some organisations have failed to protect children from sexual abuse.

Over 4,000 people have already come forward to the Truth Project.

Listening to your experiences and suggestions helps us recommend changes to protect children and from abuse, now and in the future.

I want to raise a concern – what should I do?

Anybody who would like to give information or make disclosures about church-related abuse is asked to email the Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be contacted via 020 3837 1224  or safeguarding@nulllondon.anglican.org

Further information

More information about PCR2 is available from the Church of England website

Key Documents:

Background and Overview

Protocols and Guidance

Appendices


FOUND UNDER : Safeguarding, Safer Churches
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