Vicar quits as school governor in kiss row
A vicar has stepped down as a school governor after kissing a 10-year-old girl on the cheek because she came up with the right answer during a maths lesson.
The Rev Alan Barrett, vicar of Tamworth, Staffordshire, kissed the girl in front of fellow pupils and a maths teacher as he presented her with a certificate. But the girl's mother claimed the kiss was an assault and complained after the incident in May. Mr Barrett was investigated by police, social workers and the diocese.
Staffordshire police took no action and the county council found there was no case to answer. And yesterday the archdeacon of Lichfield, the Ven Chris Liley, ruled that Mr Barrett would not be the subject of disciplinary proceedings. But he advised the vicar that the kiss had been "inappropriate".
"The conclusion that Mr Barrett had acted inappropriately is not a finding of guilt or negligence, but recognition that in today's climate, previously acceptable innocent behaviour is now subject to misunderstanding and suspicion," said David Drake, spokesman for the diocese.
Mr Barrett has resigned as a governor of the school on the advice of Mr Liley.
"I had visited the school to help some pupils with their work and, at the end of the lesson, congratulated one girl who had been struggling," he said yesterday. "I was stunned to hear that I'd become the subject of a police and social services investigation which examined my character, conduct and ministry."
He added: "I have discussed the issues with my archdeacon and agreed that one cannot be too careful. Giving a child a kiss of congratulations is inappropriate in this day and age. The archdeacon also observed the relationship between myself and the headteacher had been under severe strain for some time and this incident had not helped."
Mr Drake said: "The bishop of Lichfield has written to the mother of the girl setting out the steps the diocese has taken and the conclusion of the investigation. He has explained that if the mother still feels the conduct warrants a formal investigation she may lodge a formal complaint under the clergy discipline measure.
"The diocese of Lichfield treats the protection of children very seriously and has a laid-down child protection policy which all parishes are required to abide by."
Peter Stevens, a Staffordshire police spokesman, said: "Based on interviews, we felt no further police action should be taken. Mr Barrett was not cautioned."
A spokesman for Staffordshire county council said: "A child protection inquiry was initiated and subsequently concluded. It was found there was no case to answer."
But the girl's mother said she was not satisfied with the investigation or the findings and continued to allege that Mr Barrett's kiss was an assault. "I am so disappointed with the way it has been handled and I would like him to be removed from his position," she said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...820015,00.html
A vicar has stepped down as a school governor after kissing a 10-year-old girl on the cheek because she came up with the right answer during a maths lesson.
The Rev Alan Barrett, vicar of Tamworth, Staffordshire, kissed the girl in front of fellow pupils and a maths teacher as he presented her with a certificate. But the girl's mother claimed the kiss was an assault and complained after the incident in May. Mr Barrett was investigated by police, social workers and the diocese.
Staffordshire police took no action and the county council found there was no case to answer. And yesterday the archdeacon of Lichfield, the Ven Chris Liley, ruled that Mr Barrett would not be the subject of disciplinary proceedings. But he advised the vicar that the kiss had been "inappropriate".
"The conclusion that Mr Barrett had acted inappropriately is not a finding of guilt or negligence, but recognition that in today's climate, previously acceptable innocent behaviour is now subject to misunderstanding and suspicion," said David Drake, spokesman for the diocese.
Mr Barrett has resigned as a governor of the school on the advice of Mr Liley.
"I had visited the school to help some pupils with their work and, at the end of the lesson, congratulated one girl who had been struggling," he said yesterday. "I was stunned to hear that I'd become the subject of a police and social services investigation which examined my character, conduct and ministry."
He added: "I have discussed the issues with my archdeacon and agreed that one cannot be too careful. Giving a child a kiss of congratulations is inappropriate in this day and age. The archdeacon also observed the relationship between myself and the headteacher had been under severe strain for some time and this incident had not helped."
Mr Drake said: "The bishop of Lichfield has written to the mother of the girl setting out the steps the diocese has taken and the conclusion of the investigation. He has explained that if the mother still feels the conduct warrants a formal investigation she may lodge a formal complaint under the clergy discipline measure.
"The diocese of Lichfield treats the protection of children very seriously and has a laid-down child protection policy which all parishes are required to abide by."
Peter Stevens, a Staffordshire police spokesman, said: "Based on interviews, we felt no further police action should be taken. Mr Barrett was not cautioned."
A spokesman for Staffordshire county council said: "A child protection inquiry was initiated and subsequently concluded. It was found there was no case to answer."
But the girl's mother said she was not satisfied with the investigation or the findings and continued to allege that Mr Barrett's kiss was an assault. "I am so disappointed with the way it has been handled and I would like him to be removed from his position," she said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...820015,00.html
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