NAZIR AFZAL, the lawyer known for his work prosecuting Rochdale grooming gangs, has been appointed the following independent chair of the National Safeguarding Panel (NSP).
The NSP was arrange in 2014 to supply scrutiny of Church of England safeguarding, and offer strategic advice. It is run independently of the National Safeguarding Team; survivors of church-based abuse are amongst its members.
The appointment, announced on Tuesday, shouldn’t be Mr Afzal’s first position in church safeguarding: he served as chair of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency. The Tablet reported on Monday that he had stood down from this position on the conclusion of a three-year term.
Mr Afzal, who’s a practising Muslim, is a former Chief Crown Prosecutor for north-west England. Among the cases prosecuted during his tenure were those regarding child sex abuse rings in Rochdale.
Since leaving the Crown Prosecution Service almost a decade ago, he has served in advisory positions, including to the Welsh Government, and as chief executive of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.
The previous chair of the NSP was Meg Munn, who resigned in July last 12 months after the Independent Safeguarding Board, of which she had been acting chair (News, 12 July 2023), was disbanded.
A General Synod member, Kashmir Garton, and a survivor advocate, Jane Chevous, have served because the interim chair and vice-chair of the NSP since Ms Munn’s resignation.
Mr Afzal is anticipated to start work this month. In a press release on Tuesday, he said: “I’m pleased to tackle this essential role to guide the continuing work on scrutinising and providing challenge to the Church of England’s safeguarding governance, particularly its policy and guidance.
“I actually have at all times been committed to campaigning for those whose voices should not heard, and from my 30-year profession I do know the challenges faced by institutions who can seem faceless to those that have been harmed by them.
“The Church of England has a presence in every community across the country, and with that comes huge responsibility. I sit up for playing my part in holding the Church to account by bringing my skilled experience to the work of the panel.”
The Bishop of Stepney, Dr Joanne Grenfell, who’s the lead bishop for safeguarding, said that Mr Afzal’s “great experience will provide vital scrutiny and challenge on our safeguarding policies and practice, along with his work with the NSP.
“As we proceed to work out details around wider independence, following the General Synod vote in July [News, 8 July] the work of the NSP will ensure our work is held to account, and I sit up for working with Nazir as he leads the NSP.”
