If there’s one thing I’ve learned since becoming an activist against Scientology’s abusive practices, it’s that as the saying goes, ‘the wheels of government move slowly.’ It takes a lot of patience, grit.. and countless follow-up emails to make meaningful progress in these spheres and that can be disheartening at times. One might expect that on blowing the whistle about child abuse, forced labour and modern slavery the powers that be would jump into action and slam down the hammer of justice. But unfortunately, one must accept that we now live in a world where Scientology has been getting away with its abusive practices for 67 years in the UK, and in a country with a constitution based on laws dating back quite literally a thousand years, it’s going to take a bit more than blowing the whistle to make effective change.
But recently there has been a notable shift in the government’s stance on cults and this week exemplifies how we are at the start of something big and if I were a high control group that abuses its members, I would be afraid…. very afraid.
On Monday, the National Working Group on Spiritual and Ritual Abuse hosted a screening of a recent BBC Panorama documentary about the cult of the Jesus Army. The day was symbolic. There was something unique about meeting cult survivors, hearing their stories and watching a documentary in a room where the windows were overlooked – quite literally – by Big Ben. (Or to be specific, the Elizabeth Tower… Big Ben is just the bell). The committee room itself was the Wilson room – named after former Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Yes, the same Prime Minister who took serious action against Scientology in the 1960s including banning foreign Scientologists from entering the country to study or work for the church… and whose Health Minister Kenneth Robinson described Scientology as “a serious danger” to mental health and launched the inquiry into Scientology that led to the damning 1971 Foster Report.
Monday wasn’t about Scientology but cults more broadly… but there was something deeply ironic and somewhat amusing about the screening event taking place in the Wilson room. The screening event offered an opportunity to meet with Members of Parliament who have been leading the way in amending our coercive control legislation, which would pave the way for ex-Scientologists (and other survivors of such abuse) to seek justice in a way that is currently not possible.
It was an honour to have been invited to attend this historic moment. I was moved to tears hearing survivors’ stories first hand and the documentary illustrated why something needs to be done not only to support survivors, but to prevent future harm. It couldn’t be clearer that cults may have differing beliefs, but the tactics they use to control, manipulate and deceive their members are identical and as the solicitor who represented the survivors pointed out, the UK’s criminal justice system is not currently set up to tackle the problem of cultic abuse.. these groups specialise in operating within legal grey areas and exploit legislative loop holes as a matter of standard operating procedure. And a case cannot be brought before a judge where there is no law.
As it currently stands, the Serious Crime Act 2015 recognises coercive control as an offence, but only when it occurs within a domestic setting or a close family/personal relationship. Together with the Family Survival Trust and the National Working Group on Spiritual and Ritual Abuse, I have been campaigning to expand this law to include group settings… and there will be more news on this very, very soon.
But the next landmark moment this week was yesterday, Tuesday 14th April.
I was invited to attend the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Safeguarding in Faith Communities. Essentially, this is a group of cross-party peers and Members of Parliament, church leaders and experts who are responsible for raising the issue with central government and ensuring it remains not just on the political agenda, but prioritised. The fact I was invited in itself was recognition of the hard work I have been doing here in the UK, and marks the first time an ex-Scientologist has been asked to speak since the APPG was formed.
The meeting marked the official launch of an Inquiry into the effectiveness of the current definition of ‘regulated activity’ with children for faith communities in England and Wales. Regulated activity relates to anything that involves contact with minors – for example, providing childcare facilities or teaching or training children. The purpose of the inquiry is to:
- Assess the understanding and application of definition of ‘regulated activity’ for faith communities and organisations.
- Identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas of risk related to the definition of ‘regulated activity’ for faith communities and organisations.
- Provide findings and recommendations, as appropriate.
It is expected to take a year, with the findings being announced this time next year.. and, as we have seen with a similar inquiry into cults in Australia, over the next twelve months the APPG will be issuing a questionnaire, inviting members of the public to provide testimony as well as hosting a series of public hearings before the findings and recommendations are published in March 2027.
I attended alongside Rachael Reign, who leads the Surviving Universal UK charity and sits with me on the Campaigns Committee at the Family Survival Trust, and she took the opportunity to ask how survivors of child abuse within religious groups and cults would be included in the inquiry. We were told those with lived experience were not only important, but central to the inquiry’s work. We were asked to share far and wide with our respective communities when the inquiry starts accepting public submissions and we were assured our expertise would be called upon – and valued – over the coming year.
Ruth Jones MP, who chaired the meeting, mentioned that she had heard from a number of faith communities who expressed dissatisfaction with the concept of opening an inquiry into safeguarding rules.. and she made it clear in no uncertain terms that if these groups have nothing to hide, they have nothing to fear in assessing whether the current framework adequately protects children from harm.
The meeting then turned to the next piece of legislative change it has been forwarding: mandatory reporting. As things currently stand, religious ministers in the UK who become aware of child abuse are not required by law to report it. The Crime and Policing Bill, which as we sat in the APPG was being debated in the House of Lords next door, seeks to change this by making it an offence to not only fail to report, but also to obstruct or prevent another person from reporting knowledge of abuse to the authorities.
It was my turn to speak, and I turned the focus directly on to Scientology. It’s all very well and good mandating ministers to report, but how does the Government plan to oversee this law’s implementation and ensure organisations actually comply? Here is the question I asked, in its entirety:
“My name is Alex and I’m an ex-Scientologist. As children, I and many others were failed by the church of Scientology’s refusal to report abuse within its walls – and in fact, despite leaving, we continue to be targeted in prolific campaigns of harassment orchestrated by the Church’s Office of Special Affairs under their practice known as Fair Game.
“Scientology’s own Ethics book says in no uncertain terms that reporting a fellow parishioner to law enforcement is not only forbidden, but punishable.
“Children in this particular group have been routinely failed by the current safeguarding framework and I welcome the calls for mandatory reporting to be introduced.. but how will it approach the issue of high control groups like Scientology, which as a matter of both belief and church policy, prevents and forbids its members from reporting abuse – and that, as an organisation itself, engages in the continued abuse and intimidation of survivors who choose to speak out?“
The shock amongst those in the room was palpable. Sam Carling, a Member of Parliament who is also an ex-Jehovah’s Witness, answered. He recently made headlines by referring to the JW’s as a “cult” in the House of Commons and he has been leading the way in driving the change we need to modernise our antiquated system when it comes to cult legislation. He was not familiar with Scientology’s Ethics book – which I held in my hand as I spoke – but he was shocked to hear of such a policy and he agreed to meet with me after the meeting to discuss the specifics and see how this new law can cater for organisations like Scientology.
The room – I’d like to remind you – was filled with Lords Spiritual, MPs, Barons and Baronesses and leaders from the Catholic Church, the Church of England and other faiths… it appears most mainstream religions are taking safeguarding somewhat seriously and have a vested interest in – at the very least – appearing to want to right the wrongs of the past after a series of allegations came to light about systemic child abuse spanning decades within Christian organisations. It says a lot that Scientology did not send a representative to this meeting.
So, change is happening.. and the government’s attention is finally turning towards not just Scientology’s behaviours, but the mechanisms cults use in order to manipulate their members and cover up abuse.
Survivor stories are integral to demonstrating the breadth and scale to which this issue is prevalent – especially within Scientology.. and I would like to encourage those who experienced harm or neglect, or who witnessed abuse within the so-called Church here in the UK to submit their stories (anonymously if they wish) using this form I set up recently: https://forms.gle/WAqdHk3SCpkEMHZUA
And over the coming months, as the Inquiry opens to public consultation I will of course update you all on how to submit your testimony officially… but for now, I wanted to share that change is happening. Sure, it’s slow… and frustratingly so at times. But it IS happening, and I will continue fighting for those whose voice has been taken away.
This story was initially published on The Underground Bunker and has been cross-posted here so that it has a second home for prosperity.
