Sussex Men Arrested after Church of England Abuse Probe

By Ben Parsons
The Argus
March 6, 2012

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9572427.Sussex_men_arrested_after_Church_of_England_abuse_probe/

Two men in their 70s have been arrested after an investigation into alleged sex abuse by Church of England priests between the 1960s and 1980s.

A 73-year old man was arrested near Eastbourne today (March 6) on suspicion of sexually assaulting nine young people, in Crawley, Barkingside in London, and Middle Wallop in Hampshire between 1965 and 1972.

A 70-year old man was also arrested at his home address in Eastbourne on suspicion of sexual assaults against three young men in West Sussex during the late 1970s and mid-1980s.

Sussex Police issued the following statement: "The arrests result from an investigation over the past six months by a team of specialist Sussex Police child protection detectives.

"The investigation follows receipt by the Diocese of Chichester and Sussex Police in 2011 of a confidential review by Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, to which both the Diocese and police had provided detailed information, of some historic allegations of sexual abuse by Church of England priests against young people in Sussex and elsewhere.

"Sussex Police decided to re-examine several of the historic allegations referred to in that confidential report.

"Several of those allegations had previously been reported to police but there had been insufficient evidence to justify prosecution at those times."

The force said the allegations against the 73-year-old man date back between 40 and 45 years.

It confirmed allegations were made to police in 1972 but no criminal proceedings resulted.

Another allegation was made to police in 2001 and an arrest was made then. The force said there was not sufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings.

The allegations against the 70-year old man relate to a period between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s in West Sussex.

One claim was investigated by police in 1997, and an arrest was made. Again the force said there was insufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings at the time.

The other allegations have only recently emerged in the current investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Carwyn Hughes said: "Although they have been arrested on the same day the cases against the two men are being treated as separate enquiries at this stage.

"The offences were allegedly committed at different times and in different places from each other.

"The re-investigation of these cases has taken six months. This is a very complex enquiry, in the course of which many people, all now adults, have had to be traced, together with other witnesses and records from a wide variety of sources.

"There are no allegations of recent or current offending and police emphasise that there is nothing to suggest that any children are currently at risk.

"The Diocese of Chichester are co-operating fully with police. Although the cases referred to are still under police investigation, Sussex Police make it clear that the force will always take seriously any allegations of historic sexual offending, and every possible step will be taken to investigate whenever appropriate."