UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian
Steven Morris and Ruth Gledhill
The Guardian, Tuesday 5 August 2014
A senior Church of England bishop has been interviewed under caution by detectives on suspicion of indecently assaulting a girl more than 30 years ago.
The bishop of Gloucester, Michael Perham, 66, was questioned on Tuesday by officers from the Metropolitan police’s sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command about the historical alleged offence.
Perham, who left his post suddenly ahead of weekend services, was also questioned about an alleged indecent assault on a woman at around the same time. Both alleged incidents date back to the early 1980s, when Perham was working as a curate in south London.
Mystery had surrounded Perham’s sudden departure just a few months before he was due to retire at the age of 67, following 10 years as bishop of Gloucester. The diocese of Gloucester initially said only that Perham, a married father of four grown-up daughters, had “stepped back” from his ministry due to personal reasons.
The Met on Tuesday afternoon confirmed a 66-year-old man “attended a police building in Gloucestershire by appointment where he was interviewed under caution on suspicion of indecent assault on a child aged under 18 years; and indecent assault on a second female, aged over 18 years.”
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