Church of England to increase oversight of abuse complaints - but safeguarding won't be fully independent

The Church of England has voted to increase oversight of abuse complaints - but safeguarding will not be independent.

Members of the General Synod, the Church's parliament, voted for the new measures for handling abuse allegations as it tries to restore trust among survivors after multiple scandals.

Despite victims urging the Synod to introduce a new independent body to oversee all Church-employed safeguarding officers - it instead voted for a less independent model.

This "short term" model would see most national staff move to a new outside non-Church body, but cathedral officers and other diocesan to remain with their current Church employers.

The motion was passed with 392 votes in its favour. Nine people voted against it - and there were six abstentions.

The five-day meeting of the Synod is the first since Justin Welby resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury amid condemnation over safeguarding failures.

He stood down in November after a report said he could and should have done more in the case of paedophile John Smyth - who for years sexually and physically abused more than 120 boys and young men.

The Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalath, has also just announced his retirement after accusations of sexual assault and harassment were made by two women - one a bishop. He denies any wrongdoing.

The Bishop of Newcastle has told Sky News that she's "furious" with the Synod's decision.

One survivor, Will Harwood - vicar of St John the Evangelist's Church in Truro - told Sky News he's "concerned this seems like a fudge."

"At the top end of the Church, there are people who don't believe that they need to do more.

"There is a real danger that people think they are doing everything they can. Unfortunately - survivors of abuse don't think that.

"They don't feel like they're being heard, and they will come away from today feeling let down. "

Andrew Graystone, an advocate for abuse survivors, said today's vote signalled the Church had decided to "keep it in the family".

He said: "If you are abused by a vicar, you will still be expected to report it to a bishop.

"Safeguarding staff will still be located in church offices, employed by the very same bishop.

"The Church of England had an opportunity to start to rebuild trust, by admitting that it needed expertise from outside.

"But instead they have chosen to keep it in the family.

"Shocking arrogance, and a punch in the gut for victims and survivors of abuse."

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