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Historic Child Sex Abuse Inquiry Will Not Tackle Church of England Cases until 2018

By Daniel Mumby
Somerset Live
December 23, 2016

http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/historic-child-sex-abuse-inquiry-will-not-tackle-church-of-england-cases-until-2018/story-30005937-detail/story.html

Disgraced former bishop Peter Ball is currently serving a 32-month prison sentence

The public inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Church of England and other institutions is to be sped up and partially scaled back.

Professor Alexis Jay, who is chairing the inquiry, has said that she wants to refocus the inquiry into preventing abuse.

She told The Guardian that she remained committed to pursuing all 13 investigations into "non-recent abuse" with institutions, including the Catholic church and the Houses of Parliament.

But she added that there would only be one or two public hearings into each key area - meaning that all incidents of reported abuse within the Church of England would have to considered together.

Each hearing within the inquiry is still expected to last for days or weeks, and it is unlikely that hearings into the Bishop Ball case and others within the Anglican community will commence until 2018.

Bishop Peter Ball, formerly of Aller near Langport, is currently serving a 32-month prison sentence for indecent assault and misconduct in public office.

He was sentenced in October last year after admitting the abuse of 18 young men between 1977 and 1992.

A separate independent review in the Church of England's handling of the Bishop Ball case - chaired by Dame Moira Gibbs - was initiated in February and is expected to deliver its report early next year.

Professor Jay said that she wanted to "make substantial progress" with the inquiry by 2020, adding that she wanted to "unravel institutional failures of the past and make meaningful recommendations to keep children safe."

In addition to its already proposed hearings, the Jay inquiry will monitor the ongoing investigations into sexual abuse within football, and has requested copied of the FA's findings as they emerge.

The National Police Chiefs Council has confirmed that a total of 148 clubs across the UK are being looked into, including one investigation within the jurisdiction of Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Anyone that has been a victim of child sexual abuse should call the police on 101 or contact the NSPCC helpline on 0800 023 2642.

 

 

 

 

 




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