Church of England Set Precedent by Reporting on Historic Sexual Abuse

The Future of Criminal Liability for Institutions

In last year's report, IICSA recommended that any person working in regulated activity in relation to children would be criminally liable if they did not report cases of sexual abuse to the police.

The lack of reporting was a common theme in IICSA’s findings. Sexual abuse is often not reported due to concerns over the reputation of well-regarded schools such as Chetham’s. This is common among other institutions, such as churches and children’s homes. In IICSA’s report, many people confessed that they failed to report instances of sexual abuse because it was not “professionally or politically convenient” for them at the time.

Many people think reporting procedures are confusing and subjective, and worry about how incidents would be proven or interpreted. This can lead to cover-ups and an unwillingness to speak out about issues, often over decades.

Our lawyers at Simpson Millar have over 30 years of experience dealing with instances of institutional and religious abuse. We have a track record of listening to and supporting survivors of sexual abuse on their journey to justice.

We are also able to provide survivors of abuse with details of support groups and charities in their local area for them to contact so they can get some help, whether that be someone to talk to during the claims process or through counselling and therapy. of

Our discussions will be an open and honest safe space, in which survivors of sexual abuse can come to us with any worries or concerns regarding their case. We are here to answer any questions our clients may have about the process or what will happen next.

A Proactive Move from The Church of England

Technically, if the Church of England did not report the allegations about Bishop Hullah, they would not have broken any law. They would have failed to have meet their professional and moral obligations in the church, but currently no law exists to make reporting sexual abuse a legal requirement for institutions. IICSA have recommended a systemic change is brought about to make this illegal.

Meanwhile, Hullah’s case shows a positive and proactive move from the Church of England. Many similar cases of institutional sexual abuse are only made public once the victims speak out during legal proceedings. Once a cover-up comes to light, more light can be cast onto organisations retrospectively. But these retrospective findings often happen years after the victims actually suffered from the abuse. Our lawyers have seen many sexual abuse survivors go through years of trauma after institutional or religious abuse in their childhood. This might have been lessened if institutions had been legally enforced to report allegations to the police at the time, as part of their internal procedures.

The Church of England have shown how vital effective management and internal procedures are when it comes to sexual abuse. They proactively dealt with and concluded Bishop Hullah’s case within the church over a number of years by consent, as opposed to the abuse being exposed as a ‘cover-up story’ years later.

Despite the fact that sexual abuse cases have been prominent in religious spaces, the Church of England has demonstrated that they can react appropriately when they’re made aware of these cases taking place in their institution.

How We Can Help

Our specialist Abuse Solicitors at Simpson Millar has years of experience dealing with similar cases of institutional and religious abuse. We know how to handle sensitive and difficult issues like this, and advising you on how to move forward.

It’s hard to speak out, and often difficult to know whether an organisation can be held legally responsible, especially when it’s an institution suchas the Church of England.

Our lawyers are here to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide whether to move forward with a claim if you have experienced sexual abuse.

We will listen to you and give you no-obligation, confidential legal advice. We aim to make the process as accessible and easy as possible, so we can take the weight off your shoulders.

We can help you get the justice, resources and support that you need.

Why It Matters

Sexual abuse cases have been a significant issue in religious institutions like the Church of England for a while now. It’s a traumatising and life-altering thing to have to experience, and it can affect your mental and even physical health.

But, as we can see, people are starting to speak up about the sexual abuse, and the institutions are beginning to take note and be proactive. Victims of this kind of abuse, especially when it’s historical, can sometimes be afraid to talk about it, but things are changing now.

This case is an example of how victims of sexual abuse in religious institutions are finally being listened to, which is a beacon of hope for other victims of similar abuse. This case is an example of the fact that speaking up can inspire change.