Survivors group criticises ECB over ‘lack of transparency’ round Hyam report

The England and Wales Cricket Board has been criticised by an abuse survivors advocacy group over a “lack of transparency” in opting to not publish a report right into a former Essex coach who secretly filmed feminine gamers in altering rooms.

The ECB commissioned an impartial evaluate into Matthew Hyam after he was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months’ imprisonment in September 2021.

Hyam admitted to seven prices of taking or making indecent photos of kids and 5 prices of voyeurism.

Essex Police confirmed Hyam, who oversaw the ladies’s and women’ set-up on the membership till his arrest in 2020, secretly made movies of 9 girls and women, who the PA information company understands have been gamers linked to Essex.

The ECB-commissioned evaluate was led by impartial professional Jane Wonnacott. The manager abstract of the report was delivered to Essex final December, and to these victims of Hyam who had indicated they wished to obtain it.

The evaluate made 11 suggestions which the ECB is implementing throughout the cricket community, the element of which was shared with PA by the ECB. Nonetheless, the report itself won’t be printed due to ECB issues that it might result in the identification of Hyam’s victims, who’ve the proper to lifelong anonymity below the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Kyniska Advocacy, which helps the rights and welfare of girls in sport, has criticised the ECB’s resolution to not publish and referred to as for an impartial safeguarding ombudsman in UK sport.

“We all know there’s a troubling lack of belief from sports activities communities of their nationwide governing our bodies attributable to a legacy of inaction and a scarcity of transparency,” a Kyniska assertion learn.

“Not publishing this report seems to be like yet one more instance of an NGB defending their very own fame over and above constructing belief with their members, and due to this fact not prioritising athlete well-being and security.

“It’s so disappointing that the media has to go to such lengths to carry NGBs accountable, as a result of they appear unable to take action themselves, underlining the pressing have to implement an impartial regulator for sport.”

A girl who performed for Essex throughout Hyam’s time on the membership and who spoke to PA on situation of anonymity highlighted a number of safeguarding failings she encountered on the membership. Hyam labored for Essex for greater than a decade.

The lady, who was not considered one of Hyam’s victims, mentioned he would often give feminine gamers unaccompanied lifts and maintain one-to-one personal conferences with out chaperones current.

“There have been so many (safeguarding) faults that occurred simply because he was trusted,” she mentioned.

The Wonnacott evaluate didn’t converse to the lady, however the ECB has mentioned the safeguarding points she raised have been addressed within the closing report.

The 11 suggestions from Wonnacott are understood to incorporate a evaluate of all ECB safeguarding coaching to make sure it explores the behaviours related to intercourse offending and promotes a tradition of “it might occur right here”.

Wonnacott additionally careworn the significance of clearly designated altering services, the significance of speaking about and responding to low-level issues expressed by employees, gamers and their mother and father and advisable there be “extremely seen, accessible females” throughout the community who gamers or their mother and father might go to with any points inflicting discomfort.

An ECB spokesperson mentioned: “Matthew Hyam was suspended from all involvement in cricket as quickly because the ECB have been made conscious of his arrest and stays so.

“Following his conviction in September 2021, the ECB safeguarding group selected to fee an impartial evaluate into the circumstances surrounding his offending. This was carried out by an skilled, impartial, safeguarding professional.

“All Hyam’s victims got the chance to take part in the event that they wished, and we’re extraordinarily grateful for his or her enter. The evaluate has been thorough, and whereas this evaluate has not been printed to guard the anonymity of victims, its findings have been shared with these victims who needed to see it in addition to related our bodies together with the ECB regulatory committee, the ECB board, and Essex County Cricket.

“All suggestions are being enacted, and already type a part of the ECB Safeguarding Technique and County Partnership Settlement, safeguarding coaching and recommendation throughout the cricket community.

“Not like stories which have explored systemic points in different sports activities, this evaluate seems to be at one case the place there’s a threat that publishing might result in identification of victims.

“We’re dedicated to always enhancing our safeguarding processes and practices throughout cricket and to study from any incident which is why we additionally always revise, replace and improve our safeguarding procedures consistent with greatest observe.”

Kyniska mentioned it was “within the public curiosity” for the Hyam report back to be printed, mentioning that different sports activities had completed so even the place the report centered on a single abuser moderately than systemic abuse.

“It will be significant everybody who performs, coaches and watches cricket is conscious that the governing physique and cricket golf equipment are open and clear in terms of safeguarding failings and genuinely wish to act on and enhance issues, as a result of with out this stage of belief we can not count on abuse survivors to reveal abuse to the cricket authorities.”