In late 2016 Thames Valley police were contacted by the Oxford diocese, who disclosed a full copy of the Ruston report, which was compiled more than 30 years earlier and which spelt out in graphic detail the beatings administered by Smyth. Finally officers had it.

Ann Hartley has made the claim that a "a culture of silence and fear" may be preventing fellow clergy from speaking out against senior Church of England leaders amidst the John Smyth abuse scandal.

The only Church of England bishop to publicly demand the resignation of former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said Wednesday that his departure wasn't enough to solve the church’s “profound failure” in safeguarding vulnerable people or ease the trauma suffered by victims of abuse.