Bangor Cathedral: Inappropriate behaviour claims in document

Complaints a couple of “culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred”, irrelevant language and over the top intake of alcohol had been highlighted in a cathedral safeguarding assessment.

In February, the Church in Wales introduced an investigation right into a “very serious and urgent” safeguarding factor at Bangor Cathedral in Gwynedd, even though main points weren’t published.

The impartial document, revealed on Saturday night time, additionally discovered a “lack of contracts for” paid roles or tenancy agreements and a lack of codes of behavior.

The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, who could also be Bishop of Bangor, stated the findings of the impartial assessment had “identified some concerns which needed to be addressed”.

Plenty of other folks “linked to the life of the cathedral” had been invited to participate within the assessment by way of Thirtyone:8, a gaggle specialising in offering safeguarding recommendation in church settings.

But the document’s authors have stated the “audit did not include a fact-finding exercise where the strength of evidence was tested in relation to complaints made against specific individuals”.

“Although generally people conducted themselves well, the reviewers were also informed of inappropriate behaviours such as inappropriate language, lack of boundaries around communication (outside of work hours and away from office premises), excessive consumption of alcohol etc,” stated the abstract document.

“Complaints were also made of others in the cathedral that were actively involved in inappropriate language being used in front of younger members of the choir and that this was more than ‘banter’, and at times was reported to cause potentially humiliation to some.

“Accounts point out a tradition during which sexual obstacles gave the impression blurred, and to a couple of their view promiscuity was once applicable.”

It went on to mention “there did not to a couple seem to be any safeguards installed position when some people’ behaviours reportedly become unacceptable, and this began to have an effect on others”.

The report said reviewers were made aware of WhatsApp groups which individuals used to express their thoughts and frustrations.

“These reported unfavorable feedback seem wholly irrelevant and if, that is the case, then steering will have to be equipped to discover protected and suitable use of social media.”

The assessment stated “personnel weren’t acutely aware of behaviour pointers” which could leave children, vulnerable adults, cathedral staff, and the church’s reputation “doubtlessly extra at risk of allegations and abuse”.

It said while the consumption of alcohol was a “issue inside of this surroundings, subsequently it is beneficial {that a} transparent coverage is followed to make sure that when served after products and services within the cathedral, persons are acutely aware of the wish to prohibit the get admission to to a couple people and keep away from any power to evolve to consuming undesirable alcohol”.

It also said the cathedral was an “open surroundings to individuals of the general public getting into all the way through provider occasions however even all the way through occasions the place get admission to is particular there are such a lot of keyholders that folks can stroll into youngsters’s workforce with none wisdom that they’re there”.

It also called for appropriate security checks – Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) – are made when recruiting staff for some roles.

The review did highlight “key strengths”, including a “fundamental consciousness” of safeguarding, with all clergy and a number of lay members having attended safeguarding training.

And it also mentioned it was “reported that during the last couple of years there have been vital certain adjustments throughout the cathedral, together with embedding the Welsh language into the products and services”.