Past Cases Review 2
The Diocese of Derby has taken part in the most extensive review of safeguarding records ever conducted by the Church of England.
The purpose of PCR2 was to identify both good practice and institutional failings in relation to how allegations of abuse have been handled, assess any identified risks and respond to these where appropriate, and to provide recommendations to the Church that will lead to improvements in its safeguarding work.
The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, writes:
I, along with diocesan colleagues and Derby Cathedral, welcomed the opportunity offered by PCR2 to reflect on our practice.
We also welcome the advice and challenges arising from the report.
We are grateful for the level of detail in the 40 recommendations made by the Independent Reviewers for consideration by the diocese, cathedral or Church of England.
Many of these recommendations reiterate a process change that had been recognised by senior officers, and are underway or have already been completed.
We are committed to attending to the recommendations made and have been glad of the opportunity this process has provided to learn and improve.
Executive Summary of the Diocese of Derby Report
The PCR2 was jointly commissioned by the Diocese of Derby and Derby Cathedral.
It was completed between 26th April and 29th October 2021 by two independent safeguarding professionals.
The review process was overseen by a PCR Reference Group with an appointed independent chair.
The process achieved the PCR2 specific objectives and complied with the PCR2 Practice and Policy Guidance (PCR2 PPG) issued by the Church of England PCR2 Management Board.
In compliance with PCR2 PPG, the diocese was in Category B - those dioceses who did not need to carry out a repeat of the original PCR but who have not conducted further review work since January 2007.
The diocese did not seek any exemptions in the file review phase.
Derby Cathedral and the Diocese of Derby actively engaged with the PCR2 process, meeting all the requirements specified in the PCR2 PPG and the review was welcomed as a learning opportunity by the bishop and all those supporting the review, many of whom were new in post and seeking to benchmark their ongoing work.
The content of the PCR2 report was drawn from documented information, and discussion between the independent reviewers and key stakeholders in the diocese and Derby Cathedral.
In the Diocese of Derby, the file review phase consisted of 1,164 files and, as a result, one new case was identified.
Of the files reviewed, 70 were cathedral files.
>> Download the Diocese of Derby's Executive Summary [.pdf] (Republished on 7 October 2022 with a data amendment)
The PCR2 report can be read in full on the Church of England website.
Support
Support is available for anyone for whom this prompts the need to talk or seek help and the diocese is keen to help anyone who contacts them about safeguarding matters, however long ago they may have happened.
Contact details for the Safeguarding Team:
safeguarding@derby.anglican.org | 01332 388678
Further information - Downloads
>> PCR2 Background and Overview [PDF]
