The Sunday programme investigates allegations that the Jehovah's Witness ordered the destruction of documents that could be used during the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Was this in contravention of Section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 which is punishable by imprisonment?
BBC Radio 4. 14th February 2016. ''Sunday'' program with article on Witnesses and child abuse.
by ThomasCovenant 76 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
-
ThomasCovenant
-
cobweb
radio 4 is my alarm clock so heard this as i woke up this morning. The Jw segment starts in the 33 minute. -
slimboyfat
Wow LittleToe!!! At 37.40.
-
konceptual99
Excellent. It's hits the question about why there has been no specific direction to elders on the instruction from the Inquiry to keep all documents right on the nose.
It is also very interesting to note that there is a criminal offence related to none compliance with an Inquiry instruction. Presumably this could fall directly to elders given the structure of congregations as individual charities. Any idea how this could be confirmed?
-
Mephis
Who was informed of the order? If it was IBSA House, then it's on IBSA House.
Keep in mind too that the period is from the order (June?) until December. So that's the period. There is unlikely to be a great deal of incriminating evidence. But it does draw attention to their desire to remove all evidence or not provide as much help as they could do. As does the longstanding annual rite of burning all notes, the consistent refusal to assist criminal investigations, the current battle with the Charity Commission, etc.
-
slimboyfat
In the programme they said the order was sent to 18 religious institutions was it? Does anyone know where there's a list of which churches were included? -
Mephis
243 institutions received letters. But regardless of receiving a letter, all institutions will be held accountable for destruction or tampering of evidence. Erm. Yeah. They're in trouble. Big trouble. Is the inhouse solicitor in London internally trained then? >_>
Justice Goddard added "No institution – whether they have received a letter or not – can be in any doubt of the extent of their duty to preserve records for the Inquiry, or of the consequences of failing to do so." We [solicitors writing this] would advise institutions to take immediate steps to prevent the destruction of any files or data relating to children in their care or the staff who looked after them, and for the time being to suspend any routine destruction of such files under data protection legislation
http://www.farrer.co.uk/Global/Briefings/Independent%20Inquiry%20into%20Child%20Sexual%20Abuse.pdf
-
slimboyfat
Was London bethel one of the institutions? Is it in black and white anywhere? -
Mephis
Letters are here. But no names given for who received.
https://www.iicsa.org.uk/news/chair-of-the-inquiry-issues-guidance-on-destruction-of-documents
-
Ruby456
I don't think this includes Jehovahs witnesses
A copy of Justice Goddard's letter to organisations on document preservation can be found here. Justice Goddard said that any institution with responsibility for children should regard itself as obliged to comply with its instructions