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Child abuse records could be destroyed by church elders accused of a sex crimes cover-up.

The Jehovah’s Witness church is believed to have sent a memo telling them to get rid of notes taken during “judicial meetings” with alleged sex offenders.

It comes after Judge Lowell Goddard – the head of Britain’s independent child sex abuse inquiry – warned ­institutions that NO paperwork relating to abuse claims should be shredded.

The Sunday People revealed 15 months ago that the church was accused of covering for paedophiles in congregations.

It is accused of brainwashing abused women and girls into not going to police so it can keep its image, preferring to deal with attackers at “judicial” meetings.

A former church elder said: “This latest move is disgusting.

"It gives elders an ­excuse to stand in court and say they have no paperwork relating to judicial meetings and can’t remember details.”

Under the church’s “audit”, basic ­details of what the abuser was accused of, when the assault was alleged to have happened and outcomes of such judicial ­meetings will be kept on file.

(Image: Wales News Service)

But more detailed notes, usually handwritten by elders during the meetings, could be destroyed.

Read more:Jehovah's Witness pervert jailed despite cover-up

The Jehovah’s Witness church failed to answer criticism over the memo.

But it said: “We abhor child abuse and view it as a heinous crime. Any suggestion that Jehovah Witnesses cover up child abuse is absolutely false.”

Last year we told how Louise Palmer, 38 , was ignored by her parents and church elders when she revealed her brother raped her as a child.

He was jailed for 14 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

In Newcastle upon Tyne, elders refused to talk to police about ministerial servant Gordon Leighton, 53, who was jailed for 13 years in 2013 for attacks on children.

In Barry, South Wales, they did not help police probing elder Mark Sewell, 53, jailed for 14 years in 2014 for sex attacks.