Mark Sowerby's almost total non appreciation of the Church's current safeguarding position on reporting abuse reveals the desire to cling to the wreckage of the status quo. Until the culture changer of statutory #MR is introduced to all Regulated Activities including the Church,  it will retains its well earned status as a 'basket case' - a term used by Mark Warner to describe safeguarding in the diocese when he became Bishop.

#MR is a (i) compulsion to report that (ii) provides legal immunity to the reporter and a (iii) sanction for failing to report.

Protection for the reporter is vital. See more here, and draft legislation : https://goo.gl/pEbq9L

Child protection in the church and other Regulated Activities is not 'all different now.' Produce the evidence.

His recommendations included the introduction of Mandatory Reporting. #MR provides (i) requirement to report, and most importantly (ii) legal immunity for the reporter (iii) sanction for failing to report. All those ingredients are needed by the Church of England and other Regulated Activities.

In brief he sought three changes:  1/ #MandatoryReporting 2/ independent handling of complaints 3/ independent oversight of safeguarding in @cofe

The question was about the church. am RA, having #MR. But Hancock wanders. The Church has nothing like #MR - it has discretionary reporting and a possible disciplinary measure could be applied if it is discovered someone failed to report, usually years later. They have the same in teaching, healthcare and other professions. The Bishop's reply is risible and indicates subject illiteracy.

Few understand  #MR. Most think the two words tell them everything they need to know. There's the mistake - and it showed.

There is no speculation about the increase in reports following the intro of #MR. Empirical evidence is available that demonstrates it and places >double the number of children into safety. Tilby resorts to sky-fall response beloved of government, social workers and National Police Chiefs Council (the receiving agencies) to reject #MR. But he failed to mention #MR already exists in Northern Ireland where systems have not crashed.

The single inconsistency drawn to the attention of Mr Tilby by Mr Frank is just one of dozens available to him ( see page 75 of our review of CofE safeguarding https://goo.gl/b92Fp3 ). The document is peppered with with them which results in a dysfunctional and valueless document. .

Mr Perkins sets out just one of the reasons why many assert the introduction of #MR is a vital component of a functioning safeguarding framework. Here is data on the very topic of denial and gaze aversion, and the positive effect MR has in  Regulated Activities > https://goo.gl/ZySkZy