The Church in Wales has launched a major review into past allegations of child abuse in a bid to protect the young people in its midst into the future, and ensure appropriate action.

Following public criticism, several embarrassing cases resurfacing from the past and a painstaking subsequent review of procedure, the Church of England has published its "model protocol" for handling child protection cases.

Dr Rowan Williams has expressed his "deep sorrow" over mistakes made by the Church of England in the Peter Halliday child abuse case, affirming its tough policy and calling for vigilance.

After the jailing of a choirmaster for sexual abuse against children in the 1980s, the Church of England says that the mistake of failing to report an abuser to the police would not happen now. But the case highlights the need for extra vigilance and robust child protection policies.

Amid accusations that it has failed to act properly in abuse cases stemming from the past, the Church of England has made child safety a priority. Its current policies and procedures are demonstrably rigorous and caring, it says.