Award of redress
10Determination of application for redress
(1)
The redress body must decide the order of priority in which applications for redress under this Measure are to be determined; and in deciding that, the redress body must have particular regard to whatever matters are specified in the rules.
(2)
Each application for redress is to be determined by the redress body on the basis of the applicable requirements imposed by this Measure or the rules and—
(a)
material provided in support of the application,
(b)
material provided in response to a request made by the redress body (whether to the applicant or for some other purpose),
(c)
advice from a person appointed by the redress body to provide advice to it, and
(d)
other material which the redress body considers relevant.
(3)
The standard of proof on which an application for redress is to be determined is the balance of probabilities.
(4)
When determining an application, the redress body must not rule on, and has no power to determine, a person’s civil or criminal liability arising from a matter to which the application relates.
(5)
The entitlement to redress on the application is not affected by—
(a)
whether a matter to which the application relates was reported to the police or a local authority;
(b)
whether a matter to which the application relates was reported to a person specified as suitable for that purpose in guidance issued by the House of Bishops or the code of practice issued under section 5A of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016;
(c)
whether the person by or in respect of whom the application is made has been convicted of an offence.
(6)
The redress body may grant an application for redress under section 6 only if it is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances which justify granting the application.
(7)
The Archbishops’ Council may prepare, and from time to time revise, guidance as to what would amount to exceptional circumstances for the purposes of subsection (6).
(8)
After determining the application, the redress body must notify the outcome of the determination in accordance with the rules.
(9)
The determination of an application for redress may be paused in circumstances specified in the rules.