Church to commission independent review of Bishop George Bell sex abuse case

UNITED KINGDOM
Brighton and Hove News

Posted On 28 Jun 2016

By : Frank le Duc

The Church of England is to commission an independent review of the handling of sex abuse claims made against the former Bishop of Chichester George Bell.

The church settled a case last year with a woman who said that the bishop abused her when she was a child.

The accompanying apology prompted criticism that the case was unfair because the bishop was not alive to defend himself and his reputation.

The Diocese of Chichester, which has its head office in Church Road, Hove, said this morning (Tuesday 28 June): “An independent review of the processes used in the George Bell case has been announced today in accordance with the House of Bishops guidance on all complex cases.

“The House of Bishops practice guidance states that once all matters relating to any serious safeguarding situation have been completed, the core group should meet again to review the process and to consider what lessons can be learned for the handling of future serious safeguarding situations.

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