New Independent Safeguarding Chair Appointed

Retired Superintendent Paul Barton comes with extensive experience for the role having served with Hampshire police where he held a number of roles in relation to Safeguarding. 

Bishop Karen said: 

"In Paul we have appointed a good critical friend to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, his experience inside and outside the church will enable him to bring challenge and care to our safeguarding provision and practices, including support for victims and survivors, all of which are invaluable in creating and maintaining a safer and responsive church." 

Paul has been strategic lead and chair of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences multi-agency working group, the Chair of the Southeast Regional Group and the Strategic Lead for Child Abuse and has represented Hampshire police on local Safeguarding Children’s Boards.  

Paul’s most recent role has been as an Independent Review for the Past Cases Review 2 within the Diocese of Chichester where he has been working closely with their Diocesan Safeguarding Team.  

Commenting on his appointment, the new Chair said: 

"I am delighted to have been appointed the Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel. Throughout my career as a police officer I focused on protecting the vulnerable and keeping people safe.    

The Church of England has come along way over the past decade to improve its approach to safeguarding but there is still work to do.  The Diocese of Salisbury are committed to making their communities a safe place to live and worship and my role, and that of the panel is to ensure that is the case."