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At least 20 former Jehovah's Witnesses are suing the group over historical sexual abuse they say they suffered.

The group has a policy of not punishing alleged child sex abuse unless a second person, alongside the accuser, has witnessed it - or an abuser confesses.

A spokesman for the Jehovah's Witnesses said in a statement "the only way that a child abuser can gain access to children in a religious organisation like ours, which does not have any programmes that separate children from their parents, is through parents themselves".

He added that for "decades" the organisation had educated parents "about the dangers of child abuse and how they can protect their children".

The spokesman said when elders learn of an allegation they "comply with child abuse reporting laws even if there is only one witness", and that parents and victims are informed they have the right to report the matter to the authorities.

He continued: "If a congregant has been guilty of child sexual abuse, our elders inform parents with minors so that they can take measures to protect their children.鈥�

But one former elder said the group had been failing to involve the authorities about alleged abuse.

Claire Jones reports.

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