THE Church of England is putting child protection officers in churches across the York diocese to guard against sex abuse.

The move comes in the wake of a series of scandals within the Roman Catholic Church and isolated cases in the York diocese.

Sunday school teachers, choir leaders and other volunteers will be screened - including checks by the Criminal Records Bureau - to ensure they are safe to work with children.

Child protection officers, mostly lay volunteers, are now being appointed to each of the 469 parishes that make up the Diocese of York.

Some of them are already being trained to enable them to spot signs of child abuse and what to do should a youngster report abuse from someone within or outside the church.

They will also be given legal and risk assessment training and advice on what to look out for when recruiting volunteers and staff.

The Reverend Ray Morris, child protection adviser to the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, is overseeing the new initiative, involving more than 600 churches.

Child protection officers will be under instructions to report any allegations straightaway to Mr Morris and to appropriate authorities such as police and social services.

Mr Morris said that people with concerns, within a parish or church setting, would now be able to go to somebody and know that that person would be able to respond without fear or favour.

He said: "The Diocese of York takes very seriously its responsibility to young people.

"The overwhelming majority of those working with children are doing an excellent job, but sadly there will be people who it will be necessary to keep a particularly close eye on."

The names of the new child protection officers will appear in the 2003 diocesan directory to be published in August.

York diocese's director of communications Martin Sheppard described them as the "eyes and ears" of each parish.

He said: "We are acutely aware of recent cases in the Press. It is an increasingly sensitive issue and it is only sensible that we respond to it.

"People are entitled to know that they can entrust their children to people in churches."

A Church of England spokesman said the diocese was acting on recommendations laid down by bishops three years ago and others across the country were expected to follow suit.

Updated: 12:52 Tuesday, January 14, 2003