Melbourne Response discouraged some victims from going to police

Catholic Church's Melbourne Response discouraged some victims from going to police, inquiry finds

The process used by the Catholic Church in Melbourne to handle abuse claims discouraged victims from going to the police in some instances, the royal commission into child abuse has found.

In 1996 then archbishop George Pell introduced the Melbourne Response, as the church's process to deal with people sexually abused by priests and others within the Archdiocese.

It allowed anyone making allegations of abuse to have what the church called an "independent commissioner" to investigate their claims and make findings.