“To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to ensure compliance with the duty to report child sexual abuse introduced in the Crime and Policing Act 2026.”
Asked by
Sam Carling
Answering Minister
the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners
Answer from Hansard
Sir Alan Campbell
The national Church institutions have reviewed the duty to report in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 and consider that the Church’s existing policies and code of practice reporting expectations regarding safeguarding are compliant with the new duty. The Church will continue to keep its guidance under review as the new statutory duty is implemented. Since 2016, all Church officers have a mandatory requirement to promptly report safeguarding concerns, allegations and disclosures of abuse to the appropriate safeguarding authorities.