Lambeth Palace 'will publish' review of Peter Ball case after letters published

Lambeth Palace has said that a review into how the Church of England investigated the Peter Ball case will be “detailed” and will be “published”.

Ball, the retired Anglican Bishop of Gloucester, was jailed for 32 months in October for historic sex offences against 18 teenagers and young men.

The Church of England launched an independent investigation after it emerged during sentencing that Ball was let off with a caution in 1993 after molesting a novice monk.

Lambeth Palace's latest response comes after a Freedom of Information request published this weekend uncovered a series of letters from prominent people to the director of public prosecutions and chief constable in charge of the original investigation into Ball defending the former bishop - including two from a former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey.

The Church of England released a statement after the publication of the letters distancing themselves from Ball.

“It is a matter of deep shame and regret that a bishop in the Church of England was sentenced earlier this year for a series of offences over 15 years against 18 young men known to him.

“There are no excuses whatsoever for what took place, nor for the systematic abuse of trust perpetrated by Peter Ball.

Over recent years the Church of England has been persistent and determined in dealing with allegations of abuse against clergy be they living or deceased,” the statement added. “We are painfully conscious of our past failings and are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding in all our churches.”

Lambeth Palace said that they are still consulting survivors groups to find an independent chair for their review into historical allegations of abuse by its clergy and expect to make an announcement “early in the new year”.