Ann Mowbray · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 30 Apr 2021•Warwickshire

Published report and response evidence

This report’s concerns and statements found in recipients’ published responses. Statements are included even where no link to an individual concern is recorded. A link shows an evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
2

Raised in this report

Recipients
2

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 2 recipients

Stated actions
0

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised2

  1. Lack of a safeguarding policy for vulnerable adult congregation members
  2. Unclear commitment to adopting a safeguarding policy for vulnerable adult congregation members

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.3

  1. Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain

    Existing religious guidance and practices are considered sufficient to support vulnerable adults, so a formal policy is not necessary.

    Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
  2. Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain

    Families and primary caregivers retain responsibility for care; congregational assistance only complements their efforts with cooperation.

    Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
  3. Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain

    Congregations do not formally care for vulnerable adults and are considered outside legislation and regulatory guidance governing such care.

    Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of a safeguarding policy for vulnerable adult congregation members

Wider context from the report

“During the course of the inquest it was accepted that the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (CCJW) do not have any policy regarding safeguarding of vulnerable adults who are members of the congregation. The issue of such a policy was raised by the author of the Domestic Homicide Review into Mrs Mowbray’s death with the CCJW in October 2020. The reply from the CCJW is unclear whether they propose to adopt such a policy or not. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Unclear commitment to adopting a safeguarding policy for vulnerable adult congregation members

Wider context from the report

“During the course of the inquest it was accepted that the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (CCJW) do not have any policy regarding safeguarding of vulnerable adults who are members of the congregation. The issue of such a policy was raised by the author of the Domestic Homicide Review into Mrs Mowbray’s death with the CCJW in October 2020. The reply from the CCJW is unclear whether they propose to adopt such a policy or not. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing religious guidance and practices are considered sufficient to support vulnerable adults, so a formal policy is not necessary.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Unlike some other religions, congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses do not carry out any activities that formally bring vulnerable adults into their care. For example, our congregations do not operate or sponsor care-homes, day-care centres or any activities that assume responsibility for the care of vulnerable adults. Therefore, it is our understanding that congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses do not fall within the scope of legislation and regulatory guidance concerning those who work with or provide care to vulnerable adults, thus obviating the need for a formal policy. Nonetheless, although not having a legal or regulatory obligation to do so, as made clear in the above-mentioned religious guidance in The Watchtower magazine, Jehovah’s Witnesses consider it a Christian duty to do what they reasonably can to provide support to vulnerable adults and their family members.”

Source location

2021-0129-Response-from-Christian-Congregation-of-Jehovahs-Witnesses-Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 4 May 2021

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Families and primary caregivers retain responsibility for care; congregational assistance only complements their efforts with cooperation.

Verbatim wording from the response

“There are no closer neighbours than members of our own family. Therefore, understandably, the Bible places the primary responsibility of caring for the elderly on family members, especially adult children.¹ In his first letter to Timothy, chapter 5, verse 4, the Bible writer, Paul, said: “If any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn first to practice godly devotion in their own household and to repay their parents and grandparents what is due them, for this is acceptable in God’s sight.””

Source location

2021-0129-Response-from-Christian-Congregation-of-Jehovahs-Witnesses-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 4 May 2021

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Congregations do not formally care for vulnerable adults and are considered outside legislation and regulatory guidance governing such care.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Unlike some other religions, congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses do not carry out any activities that formally bring vulnerable adults into their care. For example, our congregations do not operate or sponsor care-homes, day-care centres or any activities that assume responsibility for the care of vulnerable adults. Therefore, it is our understanding that congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses do not fall within the scope of legislation and regulatory guidance concerning those who work with or provide care to vulnerable adults, thus obviating the need for a formal policy. Nonetheless, although not having a legal or regulatory obligation to do so, as made clear in the above-mentioned religious guidance in The Watchtower magazine, Jehovah’s Witnesses consider it a Christian duty to do what they reasonably can to provide support to vulnerable adults and their family members.”

Source location

2021-0129-Response-from-Christian-Congregation-of-Jehovahs-Witnesses-Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 4 May 2021

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026