Swimming's governing body sorry as safeguarding cases left in limbo
· Yahoo Sports
Swim England has apologised after a number of safeguarding investigations were shelved for at least six months without a resolution due to a staff shortage.
The governing body also said it had overhauled several investigation practices, which have been described by some as unfair and heavy-handed.
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Among the cases that were left in limbo was one against volunteer Michelle Stockley, who was accused of intimidating behaviour after she made a safeguarding complaint about individuals at a swimming club in Nottinghamshire in 2023.
She was put under a serious investigation for more than two years, which included her then 11-year-old daughter being quizzed by an ex-Metropolitan Police detective acting for Swim England as an independent investigator, and both "charged" with a series of allegations.
The case has now been discontinued after being reviewed by Swim England, which was alerted to the backlog of cases by the BBC.
The Stockleys had faced a number of complaints about their alleged behaviour, but the investigation faced a series of delays. A hearing with an opportunity to put their side across was cancelled at the last minute followed by six months of silence.
After reviewing the case in detail, Simon Davies, the new director of safe aquatics, has apologised to the volunteer race official and said he was "very concerned" at how her daughter had been treated.
The dispute related to allegations made at Bassetlaw and Retford swim clubs, where all concerned no longer attend [BBC]Stockley denied the allegations, telling Swim England they were made maliciously.
"The impact of this has been devastating - we were left waiting and ignored during what has been one of the most distressing periods of our lives," she said.
The original complainant told the BBC they also felt "kept in the dark" during the investigation, which had taken far too long and with "long pauses, administrative delays and extended periods of silence".
Swim England said it was working through a number of delayed cases that would progress to what it calls judicial hearings and more serious investigations had not been held up.
Swim England said there was "no quick fix" to overhauling many of its processes [Getty Images]The governing body has more than 100,000 child members across the country and thousands of volunteers.
People with concerns about safeguarding or a person's behaviour in aquatic sports - such as coaches, volunteers, parents or the athletes themselves - can file a report to the governing body.
Its safeguarding team then decides what action, if any, should be taken, with many issues resolved at swimming clubs or by welfare teams at eight regional management companies.
Peer-on-peer bullying allegations and disputes among parents and volunteers are often dealt with by local aquatics leaders.
But those deemed serious are looked at by independent investigators and taken forward to a hearing before an independent panel of three.
Facing a ban
Stockley, of Retford, Nottinghamshire, said she had initially hoped Swim England would help to resolve issues but that the investigation contained a litany of unfair practices.
This included not being told what allegations they faced before being quizzed over video call by the former detective.
They were later told they were "charged" - a term used by Swim England for some time but associated with criminal activity - and told a hearing would decide their fate.
Sanctions can include being temporarily banned from competing or volunteering.
The accusations against her daughter of bullying were eventually dropped without a reason given, but Stockley was told she would eventually face a hearing in July 2025.
Former police chief Steve Chamberlain wrote to Swim England about the case [BBC]Steve Chamberlain, a former assistant chief constable of South Yorkshire Police who has connections to the sport, heard about the case and offered to help.
He said he had noticed a series of issues, including that the case files, seen by the BBC, contained written and CCTV evidence that showed more serious allegations about Stockley's behaviour could not be true.
Swim England did not respond to the BBC's questions about the evidence.
The former officer wrote to Swim England to outline his concerns. Stockley's hearing was postponed with a few days' notice.
She then heard nothing for six months until the BBC alerted the governing body to the case.
"In the Swim England code of ethics, one of the first lines is that an investigation must be fair and proportionate, applying the principles of natural justice," Chamberlain said.
"And this investigation has gone completely against everything involved with the natural justice - it's been completely unfair."
He added: "The failure to communicate just left them dangling on the edge of the string. They [Swim England] don't seem to realise the kind of trauma this causes to individuals who are looking at a hearing and maybe a sanction - a sentence."
The original complainant also felt there was "no emotional support and no welfare intervention" throughout the process. They told the BBC they felt "isolated and disbelieved".
Swim England said a disciplinary officer had left the organisation in July and not been replaced until December, which led to the delay in a number of cases.
After reviewing the Stockley case, Mr Davies wrote to confirm it was being discontinued, it should have been reviewed much earlier and that the organisation "did not get the balance right" by progressing the complaint to a judicial hearing.
Staff involved in the case had been spoken to, he added.
'No quick fix'
A Swim England spokesman told the BBC it "sincerely apologises for any concern and frustration" the delays to the case caused.
He said a small number of cases had been similarly delayed but the organisation was "actively working through these".
"Our new director of safe aquatics, who joined Swim England in June 2025, has completed a thorough review of our processes and procedures. This has highlighted areas where further improvements are required."
Mr Davies has been employed by the organisation to oversee safety in the sport after a wide-ranging listening review found there was a "systemic culture of fear" and that many young people had been at risk of harm for a number of years due to a series of safeguarding failures.
Among the changes Mr Davies has made to investigations are losing phrases such as individuals being "charged" and ensuring people are kept fully abreast of the process.
Chief executive Andy Salmon has been undertaking a root-and-branch overhaul of the governing body since his tenure began in 2024.
"There is no quick fix," the spokesman added. "Meaningful and lasting change will take time and we are committed to continuing this work across all our aquatic sports."
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