PSNI asks Presbyterian Church in Ireland congregations not to delete any safeguarding records

The letter was sent out by the church ahead of a Special General Assembly tomorrow in Belfast, which will hear about progress made in addressing a crisis in the central safeguarding functions in the church.

Former Presbyterian moderator Rev Trevor Gribben stood down in November after a review found “serious and significant failings” in central safeguarding functions by the denomination's hierarchy from 2009 to 2022.

The PSNI and Charity Commission have both launched major investigations.

Sources suggest that many or most of the 530 plus congregations across the church took their safeguarding responsibilities seriously over the period in question - despite major failings from the central safeguarding functions.

There appears to be little information circulating about how many complaints of abuse police have received or the scale of the current investigation. The church is not disclosing how many complaints it has received to its helpline.

A church spokesman confirmed that a letter has been sent to all ministers this week at the request of the PSNI.

He said: “We can confirm that at the request of the PSNI, an email was sent from the Deputy Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, requesting ‘that all congregations take immediate steps to preserve all church documentation and material relating to their safeguarding activities’.

"This email went to all congregations within the denomination.”

Up to 900 ministers and elders from all congregations across the island of Ireland travelled to Belfast in December to vote on the way through the crisis – and many will make the journey again tomorrow to discuss progress made.

Rev David Bruce, convenor of the church's general council - the second highest body after the general assembly itself - and Deputy Clerk Rev Peter Gamble, are both expected to address safeguarding issues.

However it is not expected that any significant details of the ongoing police investigation will be aired.

The assembly is expected to detail progress made on a raft of decisions to improve on safeguarding which were voted through in the December assembly.

There will also be planning discussions on handling the annual General Assembly in June, which may be extended from three days to four, and see a reduction in formal ceremony.

Delegates will also further discuss plans to split the roles of Clerk of the General Assembly (senior clerical role overseeing the annual assembly of church leaders) and Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (the most senior administrative role of the church).

The posts were both held by Rev Trevor Gribben upon his resignation, with some observers seeing the proposed move as a bid to decentralise control at the top of the church, an issue which was repeatedly referred to during December's special assembly.

In December the church agreed to establish a task group to revise the Appointment Process, Job Description and Personnel Specification for the post or posts of Clerk and General Secretary – and to report back tomorrow.

The proposed way forward is to hire two separate individuals along with the creation of a third role - Director of Operations - which is to take on some responsibilities of the Financial Secretary, and may similarly be seen as a move to professionalise central management.

Independent safeguarding consultant Leigh McFarlane, who is supporting some PCI abuse survivors, affirmed that the full scale of the police investigation is not yet known.

However she said that there is often “a wider context involving organisational culture, governance, and safeguarding practice” that needs to be addressed.

In her view it is vital that the church’s response is “survivor-centred, trauma-informed, and transparent,” and that “survivor voices must be meaningfully represented”.

As in December, the meeting will be open to the public and live streamed online. Delegates may also speak freely from the floor but are encouraged to submit questions in advance to ensure accurate answers can be given. They are also expected to avoid discussing details of any specific safeguarding cases.