The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle has received a “good practice” standard from the agency that oversees safeguarding in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
In an audit report published on 26 February 2025, the <a href="https://www.cbcew.org.uk/the-catholic-safeguarding-standards-agency/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency</mark></a> (CSSA) recognised that the “good practice” benchmark had been achieved across all eight of the recognised National Safeguarding Standards.
The report from the the CSSA – an agent of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales while also separate from it, having been established as a trading company with independence in its day-to-day operation, under the responsibility of a management board – also recognised major improvements in Church leadership, governance, ministry, culture and care provided to those people who have been harmed.
“The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle has made a firm commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to abuse,” the audit states.
“Observations of ministries and interviews with clergy, staff and volunteers evidenced that consideration is consistently given to the safety of all those that access the Church. Health and safety and safeguarding are standing items on all meetings that are held across the Diocese, which was observed in the minutes of meetings held by the curial staff and Parish councils.”
The report notes that the "Bishop made an unequivocal public commitment to victims and survivors of abuse at his installation Mass" and that he "continues to meet with victims and survivors of abuse, whether this is abuse suffered within Church organisations or structures or in wider society".
It adds: “The Bishop will meet with victims and survivors at a location of their choice to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible, and he has also shared that he respects the views of those victims and survivors who do not wish to meet with him. There is also evidence of the Bishop considering the views of victims and survivors with consideration to information presented on the website.”
The diocese was the subject of a full review of safeguarding and a combined audit in January 2023, when it achieved an overall grade of "early progress". This was followed in May 2024 by a subsequent interim review of Safeguarding in Leadership, Governance, Ministry and Culture that was not subject to grading.
The new audit report says that it is “evident that the diocese is motivated to ensure that improvements are made”.
The CSSA <a href="https://thecatholicherald.com/hexham-and-newcastle-bishop-showed-poor-leadership-and-put-people-at-risk-report-finds/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">previously found</mark></a> that the former Bishop of Hexham showed poor leadership and put children at risk. Bishop Robert Byrne, who resigned in December 2022 after just three years and almost a decade before his retirement age, was also excoriated for his friendship with a convicted paedophile for whom he sought work in the diocese.
The CSSA subsequently made 12 recommendations on issues ranging from volunteers’ safeguarding practice to whistleblowing policy. <br><br>Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool, who became apostolic administrator of the diocese, said at the time that "the diocese is deeply committed to the highest standards of safeguarding" and that it "accepts all of the recommendations to improve safeguarding practices and to provide pastoral care and support, safety and protection to survivors. Together, we are committed to a safer safeguarding practice.”
Amid the subsequent media fallout around the resignation of Bishop Robert Byrne, a review led by Archbishop McMahon dismissed reports of “lewd parties” in the media as “simply untrue”.
Archbishop McMahon had earlier warned Catholics of the diocese to brace themselves for a period of “pain and shame” as investigators went about their work.
Welcoming the latest report, the Rt Rev. Stephen Wright, the current Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, said: “I am very pleased that our diocesan family’s commitment to best practice in safeguarding is acknowledged and demonstrated in this report.
“The improvements over the last two years are clear and we all remain committed to [continually] improve our safeguarding culture, procedures and practises. Best practice in safeguarding is always evolving and complacency must always be avoided. <br><br>“Safeguarding the vulnerable is everybody’s responsibility and the audit looked at all aspects of diocesan life.
"I thank everybody in our Diocese for their commitment to best practice. I thank our Parish Safeguarding Representatives for their vigilance in our parishes. I also thank our excellent Safeguarding Team and Committee for their work. When it is needed, I and the diocesan family are secure in receiving their independent advice on safeguarding the vulnerable." <br><br>The bishop also thanked the regulator, the CSSA, for a "comprehensive audit", adding: "We look forward to implementing recommendations to improve even further and welcoming the CSSA back in the future.”<br><br>The audit of the safeguarding arrangements for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle was undertaken as part of the CSSA’s programme of audits of all 22 Dioceses of England and Wales.
Key points from the 2025 CSSA audit for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle are as follows:
The full report, along with statements from the diocese, can be read <a href="https://diocesehn.org.uk/news/safeguarding-agency-hails-good-practice-in-all-areas/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">here</mark></a>.
<em>Photo: Rt Rev. Stephen Wright, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle (image from <a href="https://www.cbcew.org.uk/safeguarding-agency-reports-significant-progress-in-standards-at-the-diocese-of-hexham-and-newcastle/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">cbcew.org.uk</mark></a>).</em>
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