Police action against Church of England 'must be considered'

Police action against the Church of England 'must be considered', the author of a damning review into the Church's worst child abuse scandal has said.

Keith Makin also criticised the Church for 'marking its own homework' and suggested more people should be expected to resign over the scandal.

The former social services director's comments are the first since his five-year review found that barrister John Smyth's abuse of more than 100 boys and young men was covered up within the CofE.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby was forced to resign last week after the review found that his failures meant that Smyth, the Church's most prolific child abuser, was never brought to justice.

The report found that allegations against Smyth were not properly reported to police when the Church became aware of them 'at the highest level' in 2013. Smyth died in 2018 while under investigation.

In his first interview since the release of the review, Mr Makin said that police action against the Church 'must be considered'. 

'I do think that there needs to be consideration given as to whether police action needs to be taken,' he told Channel 4 news.

He added that the 'Church does need to look very carefully at absolutely everything within its remit' following criticism of its handling of abuse allegations.

Mr Makin said: 'I think one of the issues is the Church - and to use a colloquialism - the Church is marking its own homework. I think Church officials have been aware of the issues I've been raising.

'I did report in several people during the course of the review happening. They were aware of issues. They've looked at those issues, but they have not been effective, in my opinion, in bringing about change.'

Four Bishops, senior clergy and a member of the committee that will select the next Archbishop of Canterbury are among prominent figures facing calls to resign over the scandal.

The Bishop of Lincoln, Stephen Conway, is among the most senior clergymen being called on to quit. 

Bishop Conway, who was the Bishop of Ely in 2013 when he was informed of allegations against Smyth, has said he was 'sorry that I did not pursue these actions at that time'.

While Mr Makin would not say that individuals identified as allegedly failing to act properly when made aware of the abuse should resign, he did make clear that there was a 'serious failing' on the part of Bishop Conway.

Regarding calls for others to step down following Dr Welby's resignation, he said: 'If these same kinds of conditions apply to any other senior official, you know, bishop or whatever within the church, then yes, the same should unfold.'

He added: 'I think it needs to be taken very seriously and to be examined - the appropriate action taken. And in some cases, yes, that may include then having to step down.'