Reporting Non-Safeguarding Serious Incidents
A Serious Incident is an adverse event—whether actual or alleged—that results in, or risks, significant harm to the PCC’s employees, office holders, volunteers, or others who come into contact with the church through its work. It may also involve loss of the PCC’s money or assets, damage to its property, or harm to the PCC’s work or reputation.
This page provides guidance on identifying and reporting non-safeguarding Serious Incidents. For safeguarding-related incidents, please visit our safeguarding pages.
What qualifies as a "Serious Incident"?
Examples include:
- Financial crimes such as fraud, cyber-crime, theft, or money laundering.
- Suspicious or unverifiable donations, especially those exceeding £25,000 or a series of smaller donations from unknown sources.
- Significant financial loss, including:
- Losses over £25,000 or more than 20% of the PCC’s income.
- Major property damage (e.g. fire, flood).
- Legal costs or penalties from regulatory breaches.
- Other serious events, such as:
- Data protection breaches reported to the ICO.
- Criminal investigations involving PCC members or staff.
- Disqualification of a PCC member due to legal reasons.
What is not considered a Serious Incident?
Minor accidents or incidents not linked to governance failures or the church’s activities typically do not need to be reported. For example, a vehicle accident caused by a third party with no serious injuries would not qualify—unless it involved negligence or resulted in serious harm.
When and how to report
Serious Incidents should be reported to the Charity Commission promptly—as soon as sufficient information is available. In urgent cases, an initial report can be submitted with a follow-up to provide further details.
Each PCC should designate two or three individuals responsible for preparing and submitting reports. A record of all reports and related correspondence must be securely stored for future reference.
Need help identifying or reporting an incident?
We’ve created a guide and template to help you determine whether an incident qualifies as a Serious Incident and how to report it appropriately:
đź“„Download the PCC Guidance on Reporting Non-Safeguarding Serious Incidents