LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM)
The Tablet [Market Harborough, England]
September 9, 2024
By Tabitha Smith
Under Mr Afzal’s guidance, the CSSA introduced regular audits of dioceses and religious orders as well as practical safeguarding guidance.
The chair of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency has stepped down at the conclusion of his three-year tenure.
Nazir Afzal was appointed chair of the agency in 2021 and has played an instrumental role in developing its structure and function.
His appointment was welcomed by members of the Catholic Survivors England group who said that they were “very encouraged” by Mr Afzal’s track record with victims and survivors.
Between 1970 and 2015, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse received more than 3000 child sexual abuse charges and complaints against about 900 individuals connected with the Church.
IICSA criticised the leadership of the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols in November 2020 over a lack of personal responsibility and compassion towards victims.
The Bishops of England and Wales commissioned an independent review of the Catholic Church’s safeguarding structures.
Chaired by leading safeguarding consultant Ian Elliott, the review was published in November 2020 with the aim of improving safeguarding standards.
Under Mr Afzal’s guidance, the agency introduced regular audits of the dioceses and religious orders as well as practical safeguarding guidance.
These measures include step-by-step documents – covering issues such as the recruitment of new volunteers working with children or adults at risk – which outline practical safeguarding actions to prevent abuse, including background checks and record-keeping.
Reflecting on his role, Mr Afzal said: “Every Catholic Church body is [now] audited by our independent team… No one should underestimate the impact of this change – what it means for transparency and what it means for people’s safety. The agency will soon develop even further its regulatory work and strengthen its independence.”
Steve Ashley, chief executive of the agency, said: “Nazir has led us from formation to independence. He has done this with transparency – always with the vision of keeping people safe and working with the Catholic Church in that ambition.”
Cardinal Nichols praised Mr Afzal for helping to “establish a wider understanding of the determination of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to do everything it possibly can in its care for the vulnerable”.
As a crown prosecutor, he played a leading role in bringing to book the culprints in the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal. The case inspired the 2017 BBC series Three Girls, with Mr Afzal played by Ace Bhatti.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Westminster has appointed a former detective chief inspector with the Metropolitan Police as head of safeguarding. Catherine Edgington’s policing role had a specific focus on safeguarding. In 2019, she became the senior safeguarding lead and technical advisor at the Charity Commission. She began her role with the diocese on 2 September.