Source: Church of England published on this website Monday 20 July 2026 by Jill Powell

This independent review, commissioned from thirtyone:eight, examines the Church of England’s handling of case TT, focusing on the response to allegations of rape, sexual abuse and spiritual abuse by two clergy youth officers, together with the Church’s subsequent management of those disclosures and the National Safeguarding Team (NST) investigation undertaken between 2019 and 2022. The allegations were first reported in 2001 but relate to events which occurred from 1979 and 1992.

The review considers the involvement of, and the actions taken by, the Dioceses of Southwark, Oxford and Leeds in response to TT’s allegations and related matters. The review considered whether the Church’s actions were thorough, proportionate, just, and consistent with safeguarding best practice, particularly in relation to survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches.

Key recommendations include embedding survivor-centred and trauma-informed practice throughout safeguarding processes, strengthening record keeping and communication standards, improving workforce stability and professional development, clarifying information-sharing arrangements, recognising spiritual abuse within safeguarding frameworks, establishing clearer routes to apology, accountability and redress, and implementing independent safeguarding scrutiny and oversight.

The review also notes examples of good practice, including the support provided by TT’s advocate, pastoral engagement and apologies from current diocesan leaders, and efforts by some individuals to pursue what they described as the “right moral response” beyond the limitations of formal safeguarding processes.

The review acknowledges that Dioceses and the NST have begun implementing changes that address some of the recommendations in this report.

Kevin Crompton was appointed as the ICIR in September 2023 with a remit to progress the case reviews promised by the former Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB) to a group of survivors referred to as the ‘ISB 11’.

The Church of England’s Lead Safeguarding Bishop, Bishop Robert Springett, and the National Director of Safeguarding, Alexander Kubeyinje, said in response to the review:

“We would like to pay tribute to TT for the courage, determination and perseverance she has shown in engaging with this review, which has looked at both when she originally reported in dioceses and then came to the National Safeguarding Team in 2019. We are deeply sorry for the abuse she reported, and for the profound impact it has had on her life. We are also sorry that her experience of Church safeguarding left her feeling unsupported and further traumatised.

“We welcome the publication of this review, which was commissioned following the Archbishops’ Council appointing Kevin Crompton to look at the work promised by the former Independent Safeguarding Board, ISB. It raises important issues about how the Church of England responds to survivors, and about trauma-informed practice, communication and accountability.

“As the National Safeguarding Team's independent audit (by INEQE) shows, the NST has undergone significant transformation in recent years and is now a professional national function focused on improving safeguarding practice across the Church of England. Key safeguarding standards inform all our work. We are aware that our approach now is different to when the NST started, but we are committed to learning from this review as we continue to improve safeguarding across the Church of England. The recommendations in the review will now be considered in detail and monitored via the Safeguarding Data Analysis, Research and Evaluation (DARE) Unit and the National Safeguarding Steering Group (NSSG).”

Download the report

Source: Metropolitan Police published on this website Thursday 16 July 2026 by Jill Powell

A Met officer has been dismissed without notice after he abused his position of power over a female colleague for a sexual purpose.

A misconduct hearing found Chief Inspector Kevin Weeden, attached to the Public Order Command, abused his position of power over a female colleague for a sexual purpose.

Chief Superintendent Clair Haynes, who leads the command, said: 

“Ch Insp Weeden used his far more senior position to exert control over a junior member of staff, exploiting a clear imbalance of power, and subjecting her to unwanted attention.

“His behaviour very clearly did not meet the high standards we expect of all our officers and staff and he has now been held to account for his actions.

“From identifying the misconduct to Ch Insp Weeden’s dismissal today is just 12 weeks. It demonstrates the Met’s commitment to pursue those who commit misconduct and impact the trust and confidence the public and our own people have in the Met.”

The hearing, on Tuesday 14 July, heard that Ch Insp Weeden pursued a sexual and/or emotional relationship, engaged in inappropriate communications, and failed to declare or appropriately manage the professional relationship despite the officer working under his supervision.

Between November 2024 and February 2026, he engaged in persistent and unwanted contact with the same officer, continuing to send her messages despite being asked to stop.

The hearing found allegations Ch Insp Weeden breached standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, orders and instructions, equality and diversity, and duties and responsibilities proven at the level of gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice.

He will also be added to the College of Policing barred list, preventing him re-joining the police or working for a number of other policing-related bodies.

Source: Child Safeguarding Review Panel published on this website Friday 17 July 2026 by Jill Powell

Published in February 2026, the review Protecting all vulnerable babies better highlights the complex vulnerabilities faced by babies and unborn infants and calls for clearer national guidance, stronger multi-agency working and more effective information sharing to ensure that risks are identified and responded to at the earliest possible stage.

In its response, the Government has committed to strengthening early identification of risk, particularly during pregnancy and the first year of life, to ensure coordinated responses to the key factors associated with serious harm and death. This includes improvements to maternity, health visiting and primary care services, alongside expanded perinatal mental health support and the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs. Together, these measures aim to ensure that vulnerability is recognised earlier and that families receive timely, coordinated support.

The Government is also introducing stronger safeguarding systems and protections. Under the legal guidelines that all safeguarding agencies work towards, a new duty will require agencies to share information and establish multi-agency child protection teams in every area, improving coordination and strengthening decision-making to better protect babies and unborn children.

Action is already underway to strengthen support for families at risk of babies entering care, particularly where parents have experienced the trauma of previous removals. For example, the Families First Partnership (FFP) programme helps safeguarding partners use funding and local arrangements to better support birth parents by addressing underlying issues such as trauma, domestic abuse, mental health needs, and substance use.

Since the Panel’s review, the legal guidelines that all safeguarding agencies work with has also been strengthened to ensure babies are explicitly recognised as a priority group across both children’s and adult services. This gives professionals the information they need to help risk identification, pre-birth planning and for the first time, recognises the need to consider support for parents who have previously had a child removed from their care.

Panel Chair, Sir David Holmes CBE, said:

“The landmark changes the Government is implementing because of our national review are a positive step in the right direction, but unless they are fully delivered in practice, vulnerable babies will remain at risk.

“As babies feature so often in serious safeguarding incidents, what we see on paper must turn into real, lasting change to ensure that every baby is given the safest possible start in life.

“The Panel will do everything it can to help drive these improvements forward.”

Babies and unborn infants continue to form the largest group of children in safeguarding incidents – the latest figures reveal over 75 babies died last year – a stark reminder of the urgent need for strengthened, system-wide action. Babies under one made up over 60% of deaths seen in serious incident notifications last year.

These measures are a positive step forward to keep vulnerable babies safe and the Panel will work closely with the Government to deliver on today’s commitments and ensure that Victoria’s short life is honoured through meaningful, lasting change to better protect babies and unborn children.

Source: Department of Health and Social Care published on this website Wednesday 15 July 2026 by Jill Powell

Millions of unpaid carers in England will be better recognised, referred to support and helped to reach their full potential, under a new cross-government action plan published 14 July 2026.

Nearly one in 10 people in England is an unpaid carer - providing an invaluable service in society looking after family members, friends or loved ones.

However, unpaid carers can experience challenges with keeping up careers or education, looking after their own health - including loneliness and isolation - and difficulties in taking breaks away from caring.

The action plan is underpinned by 3 central pillars:

• recognising our carers
• referring them to services
• helping them reach their potential

Recognising includes making sure they are identified early, particularly young carers. Unpaid carers can then be referred to the support they need whether it’s financial (such as the Carer’s Allowance), employment support (such as Carer’s Leave and flexible working) or health and social care services. Support also includes helping them to reach their potential or remain in work or education, so they can have fulfilling lives beyond their caring responsibilities.

Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said:

“Unpaid carers make an extraordinary contribution in our communities, caring for loved ones, often putting the needs of others before their own, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for all they do. But too many still go unseen, struggle to find support or feel caring has held back their own health, education, work or retirement.

“Our action plan is addressing some of these challenges and is focused on helping carers reach their potential in education or work. To all unpaid and young carers across the country - this government values your contribution and is committed to building a system that recognises and supports you.”

The government’s Unpaid carers action plan: recognise, refer, reach contains 42 clear actions and sets out practical steps across health, social care, education, employment and social security to improve support for unpaid carers.

The main measures of the plan include:

• unpaid carers registering their role on the NHS App so health professionals can clearly see they are a carer and involving them in care planning and referring them to the right support
• the single patient record will mean all health and care providers will have the same information for a person - meaning unpaid carers will no longer need to repeat the same information about the person they care for, while helping them manage appointments and prescriptions
• unpaid carers information page on GOV.UK putting clear guidance from health, social care, employment and benefits in one place for the first time - launching this summer
• a ‘carers’ charter’ to be published, setting out the carer’s rights and entitlements
• the government will require employers with more than 250 workers to improve the support for unpaid carers from spring 2027 so they can continue in their careers while carrying out their caring responsibilities
• carers to be central to hospital discharge planning, under reforms to the Better Care Fund
• young carers will be identified quicker and better supported so they can stay in education without falling behind at school. Schools will be held accountable by data on young carers’ attendances alongside secure information sharing about young carers across services, so they are supported

• The action plan follows the steps the government has already taken to support unpaid carers including raising the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit by more than £2,750 in 2 years, the largest increase since the 1970s. Alongside this, Universal Credit and Pension Credit provide an additional £2,500 a year to 1.1 million unpaid carers through the carer element and carer addition.
• The Department for Business and Trade has also launched a consultation on employment rights and carer’s leave, with proposals to introduce paid carer’s leave and a right to return to work following a period of intensive caring.
• Baroness Casey’s independent commission on adult social careis underway, which includes exploring the needs of unpaid carers, as part of our first steps towards a national care service. The commission’s initial recommendations are due this year.