A JUDGE reviewing a safeguarding complaint in Jersey has upheld
the decision by the Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Tim Dakin,
not to take disciplinary action against anyone involved (News, 29
November).
Dame Heather Steel was asked by Bishop Dakin to review the
handling of the complaint, in May last year. Her final report has
been handed to him, but has not yet been published. Bishop Dakin is
seeking legal advice on matters of defamation and
confidentiality.
He has also appointed a group to carry out an "impact
assessment" in order to minimise the impact of publication on "HG",
the woman who made the complaint.
The first review of the handling of the complaint by Jan Korris,
a psychotherapist, published last year (News, 15 March
2013), was critical of the Church's response. It prompted the
Archbishop of Canterbury to give "personal apologies to the young
woman who was so badly let down by those she had turned to for
help".
After the completion of the impact assessment, Bishop Dakin is
expected to give the Steel report to the Bailiff of Jersey, the
Dean of Jersey, and the Ministry of Justice. The Steel terms of
reference also require publication of the report.
On Wednesday, HG said: "This matter has been handled terribly on
all sides, and maximum harm has been done to me as a result."