Institutions’ Persistent Failure to Safeguard Children from Abuse

Warning: This story contains details some may find distressing.The words “Prolific, brutal and horrific” encapsulate four decades of abuse perpetrated by John Smyth, impacting numerous boys in the UK and Africa. This characterization was provided by the independent review, which the Church of England commissioned to examine how Smyth managed to groom and abuse children at Christian camps and in schools for such an extended period. Nearly as disturbing was the church’s repeated lack of inquiry and action when individuals attempted to report his activities, a point also highlighted in the report. Smyth’s standing within the church provided him with an appearance of trustworthiness, which facilitated his opportunities for abuse. Mark Stibbe, a survivor, recounted to BBC Newsnight how Smyth relentlessly groomed and beat him after he joined his school’s Christian Forum in 1977. During the abuse, adult nappies, used to absorb blood, were visible on a shelf in front of him, next to a leather-bound Bible. This constitutes a harrowing account of an abuser’s power in a trusted position and the harm inflicted when chances to intervene are disregarded. However, abuse is not confined to religious institutions. “Most sexual abuse happens in domestic and family settings,” states Tom Squire, head of clinical engagement at The Lucy Faithful Foundation. “But some abusers gravitate to places where they know they will have an opportunity to have contact with children – places like churches, sports organisations and schools.” Both in the UK and internationally, significant controversies have arisen in football, swimming, and gymnastics clubs, where young athletes have made allegations of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse against coaches. One of the most prominent cases involved Larry Nassar, a former doctor for the elite athletes of USA Gymnastics, who was convicted of sexual assault in 2017. A judge imposed a 175-year jail sentence on him after hearing testimonies from more than 150 women and girls. In a separate development, an independent investigation into British gymnastics determined that physical and emotional abuse were “systemic”. This review, which covered the period from 2008 to 2020, was initiated after several gymnasts spoke out about bullying, including claims of athletes being penalized for needing to use the toilet. British Gymnastics issued a full apology. Last year, multiple swimmers informed the BBC that they had experienced bullying, emotional abuse, and body-shaming. A review ordered by Swim England concluded that a detrimental environment within swimming clubs had allowed abusive training practices and bullying to persist for years. The governing body has apologized. Furthermore, scandals have surfaced concerning boarding schools and children’s homes, where confined settings rendered children vulnerable. In 2018, an inquiry into Ampleforth College, a Roman Catholic boarding school located in Yorkshire, revealed that it had been the site of decades of sexual abuse. A report from this inquiry stated that the institution “prioritised monks and their own reputations over the protection of children”. Nine serious allegations of abuse were also documented at the school as recently as between 2014 and 2016. The school asserts that it has since implemented stringent safeguarding measures. However, similar reports from other locations span back decades. Earlier this year, Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, the late Princess of Wales, detailed his experiences of abuse at Maidwell Hall School in Northamptonshire during the 1970s. An inquiry has also determined that child abuse went unchecked at Gordonstoun, the Scottish school attended by King Charles, between the 1960s and 1990s. One former physics teacher was characterized as a “predatory paedophile”. The school has since apologized. Hundreds of allegations have also been made against the Scouts, with the majority dating from the 1960s to the 1990s. In total, over £6 million has been disbursed in compensation during the past decade, with approximately 166 cases resolved within that timeframe. Other major organizations, such as the BBC and the NHS, have conducted extensive inquiries into the abuse perpetrated over decades by the television and radio personality, Jimmy Savile. He passed away before his crimes became public. All these organizations committed to change and revised their safeguarding policies following the revelations. One contributing factor to the increased awareness of these scandals is that individuals are more inclined to speak up and advocate. Subsequent investigations then follow. Nevertheless, many large institutions continue to respond slowly – the persistent question is why? Jane Chevous, co-founder of Survivors Voices, an organization dedicated to ensuring survivors are heard, states that while individuals within many institutions may strive to act correctly, there is too often a failure to listen to and protect vulnerable people. She gained this insight, in part, from her personal history. As a young adult, she endured sexual abuse by two Church of England priests over a ten-year period. The abuse ceased only when she relocated. Subsequently, she experienced a mental breakdown. This was attributable not only to the abuse, she explains, but also to the absence of support from the church she had trusted. Her religious beliefs added a layer of complexity to her experience, she clarifies. She was groomed by someone she believed was performing God’s work. “You are told this is God’s calling and this is what he wants,” she says. In 2001, a decade after the abuse concluded, she reported it to two bishops. “It was absolutely terrifying. I found it hard to hold any hope that I would be believed.” One bishop suggested she meet her abuser to attempt to resolve the situation “because that is the Christian thing to do”. The other, she recounts, advised her to contact the police because he was unable to assist. Her mental health subsequently worsened. In 2019, she reported the incidents again. This time, a police investigation ensued, during which one of her alleged abusers died. She states that the police determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue the case further. She is among several survivors who have requested the church to review their cases. Following the report detailing John Smyth’s abuse, the church has declared that it and its affiliated organizations must implement “robust safeguarding procedures …that are governed independently.” It also affirmed that “there is never a place for covering up abuse.” Jane has since