Clergyman suspended over handling of abuse complaint (From Basingstoke Gazette)

The Bishop of Winchester withdraws commission of Dean of Jersey

3:07pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News By Chris Gregory

THE Bishop of Winchester has suspended a member of the clergy for how he handled a complaint of abuse that was made by a vulnerable woman.

The Right Reverend Tim Dakin, head of the Diocese of Winchester, which includes Basingstoke, today withdrew the commission of the Dean of Jersey, the Very Reverend Robert Key.

An independent report by the diocese’s safeguarding panel found the Dean of Jersey did not comply with key safeguarding procedures in dealing with a complaint made in 2008 against a churchwarden in Jersey.

The failures raised in the report included not taking the complaint seriously, a perceived lack of neutrality, poor communication and lack of action.

The Bishop of Winchester, who is responsible for the Church of England in the Channel Islands, apologised to the woman and said he will now begin his own investigation.

He said: “The independent report suggests that, put simply, our policies were not implemented as they should have been.

“I am particularly disappointed that the Dean of Jersey refused to cooperate with the review and I have now ordered an immediate and thorough investigation.

“In the wake of the report, difficult but necessary and decisive actions are required to ensure that, in the future, procedures will be followed properly.”