Police drop investigation into bishop besmirched by Church
A POLICE investigation into George Bell, the late former Bishop of Chichester, has been dropped amid criticism of the Archbishop of Canterbury for smearing his name.
Sussex Police told The Daily Telegraph that they were no longer investigating a new allegation referred to them earlier this year.
A spokesman said the investigation “was completed in March” and added “further police investigation or action is not possible as Bell died 60 years ago”.
An independent review, released last year by Lord Carlile, found that Bell had been besmirched by the Church in 2015 when officials released a statement formally apologising over allegations of abuse made by a woman now in her seventies.
It also paid £16,800 to the woman, known as Carol, for the alleged sexual abuse over a period of four years, beginning when she was five years old.
In January this year, the Church announced that it
had received “fresh information” about Bell which it had passed to the police.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has also been urged to retract a statement that there remains a “significant cloud” over the name of the bishop, recognised for speaking out against Nazi Germany.
The Church was criticised for making the new investigation public, with Lord Carlile calling the decision “unwise, unnecessary and foolish”.
In a statement, the police force said: “On Jan 30 this year we received information from the Church of England concerning an allegation made against the late Bishop George Bell. The information was assessed and a proportionate investigation has been carried out. Further police action is not possible as Bishop Bell died 60 years ago.” A Church of England spokesman said: “Fresh information was received regarding Bishop Bell and the National Safeguarding Team announced that it was commissioning an independent investigation. We cannot make any further comment until this is completed.”
Representatives for the Archbishop of Canterbury have been approached for comment.