CHILD PROTECTION

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Child Protection Co-ordinator
Rev Peter D McGuire
28 College Road, Spinkhill, Sheffield S21 3YB
Tel & Fax 01246 432 289
e-mail : pdmcg@btopenworld.com

Child Protection Officer:
Lisa Markham
Hallam Pastoral Centre
St Charles Street, Sheffield S9 3WU
Tel : 0114 256 6454
Email: Imarkham@hallam-diocese.com

Diocesan Child Protection Commission

Chairman
Dr Patricia Brennan

Vice Chairman
Judge Michael Murphy

Secretary
Anne Ashton
Hallam Diocesan Pastoral Centre,
St Charles Street, Sheffield S9 3WU
Tel: 0114 256 6453
email: aashton@hallam-diocese.com

Members
Mr Martin Harpham
Mr Frank McDermott
Rev Peter McGuire
Mrs Penny Peysner
Mrs Susan Tym
Detective Sergeant Karen Whitehouse

CHILD PROTECTION AND OUR CHURCH

“The sexual abuse of children is a reprehensible act directed at a most vulnerable member of our society.” These are the first words of the conclusion of a paper on The Sexual Abuse of Children accepted by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in 1992. In 1993 the Home Office published a document entitled Safe from Harm - A Code of Practice for Safeguarding the Welfare of Children in Voluntary Organisations in England and Wales. Based upon this, the Bishops’ Conference published Child Abuse Pastoral and Procedural Guidelines in 1994 and From Guidelines to Good Practice in 1995. 

Every diocese drew up its own Guidelines based on these documents and appointed a diocesan Child Protection Co-ordinator (CPC) who is responsible for making sure that they are followed in every parish with the assistance of Local Child Protection Representatives (LCPR's). 

In 2001, the Bishops’ Conference accepted in full the recommendations of the Final Report of Lord Nolan who chaired a committee which reviewed Child Protection in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. They also implemented one of his key recommendations and set up a national child protection office, the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (COPCA) based in Birmingham. COPCA’s first director is Eileen Shearer. One of the tasks of COPCA is to establish national Guidelines and Policies. These will seek to ensure that our Church is in this field an example to others. 

COPCA and the Dioceses 

The diocesan CPC's meet with COPCA’s director and other officers approximately every two months at a residential conference. Where there are diocesan CPO's (Child Protection Officers, usually lay professionals) they also attend regular meetings with COPCA. An annual National Conference brings all these together to exchange ideas and good practice as well as to hear specialist speakers from home and abroad. 

Sadly, none of this can guarantee that we will completely eliminate child abuse. As we all now know it is not a new problem and it is to be found in every part of society. This makes it all the more essential that we all play our part in what is nothing less than an attempt to bring about a change of culture. We all need to be vigilant and conscious that there are those who seek to abuse children and other vulnerable members of society. We must all do what we can to put barriers in the way of those who wish to abuse. 

The Church is not an investigation agency for complaints. When one is received it is passed on to a statutory agency. The Police and Social Services have specialist units and it is their duty to investigate and, if necessary, take a case to Court. Where there is clear evidence this can be relatively simple, but things get much more complicated when there are accusations but not enough evidence for the Courts to deal with. 

 Diocesan Child Protection Commission 

The Diocese of Hallam’s Child Protection Co-ordinator is Fr Peter D McGuire. The Diocesan Child Protection Commission is chaired by Dr Trish Brennan, a consultant paediatrician: deputy chairman is Judge Michael Murphy. Other  members of the Commission include a police officer, a representative from the local social services, as well as specialists in the field of education and the family. The probation service advises the Commission.

Guidance on the Display of Photographs of Children and Young People in Churches and Church Buildings in England & Wales

Policy Guidance of Photographs of Children - This relates to the display of photographs of children in church buildings etc.