I had wanted to give myself a day off from commenting about the IICSA hearings today. Much of what was shared at the Inquiry seemed tangential to the main topic of Ball’s career. Two of those who were questioned by the Inquiry were policemen, ex Detective Inspector Wayne Murdock and Detective Superintendent Carwyn Hughes. We heard in great detail about the police procedures in 1992/3 and 2012/15. The first police operation in Gloucestershire led by Murdock was concluded with the police caution being handed to Peter Ball in March 1993. The second complex enquiry that started in 2012 in Sussex led to Ball’s trial at the Old Bailey and subsequent imprisonment. I was at first tempted to simply to leave the complicated narratives and have a night off. Then I went out for a walk after listening to all the hearings and procedures and realised that there was something bugging me. In short, I had found myself taking the side of the police every time they came into a disagreement or difficulty with the church. The professionalism of the two police forces, in Gloucestershire and Sussex contrasted strongly with the sloppiness and even dishonesty of the church authorities when faced with Ball’s crimes. This was especially true in the earlier investigation of the early 90s. If I was supporting the police rather than the church, that was something that needed to be explored in a blog post.

Murdock, the detective in charge of the first investigation in 1992, came over as a totally honourable man who was committed to uncovering the truth and defeating all the obstacles put in his path. Neil Todd, the original named victim of Peter Ball who tragically killed himself in 2012, was quickly visited by Murdock. Even though he lived in Brixton, Todd received a personal visit the same day that his name was shared with the Gloucester force. Murdock was very keen to speak to him at once before his testimony could be contaminated by contact with other interested parties. We heard about all the support being whipped up for Bishop Peter, much apparently instigated by his brother Michael Ball, the Bishop of Truro. There was also a retired policeman/clergyman, one Mr Tyler, who was working as private detective on behalf of the Bishop of Chichester, Eric Kemp. He was finding out the names of victims and interviewing them with the apparent aim of undermining the case against Ball. This obvious bias of Bishop Kemp towards Peter Ball suggests that he was not prepared to consider the unthinkable, that Ball was in fact a predator, using religion and piety as a cover for exploiting young men as he wished. One could go further and suggest that a guilty ex-suffragan bishop might result in enquiries being made into the conduct of his whole diocese. This in fact happened after his retirement and death, when Archbishop Rowan held a Visitation to the Diocese of Chichester in 2012.

One particular disturbing story, that appeared in the narrative, concerned a visit to Chichester by Murdock to meet Bishop Kemp in early 1993. Although it was a sunny day, the room where the Inspector was received had the curtains pulled. The Bishop seemed very anxious to find fault with the investigation and Murdock discovered later that a system of signalling with his detective had been put in place using the curtains. He managed to avoid falling in any of the procedural traps that had been laid for him, but he left with a strong sense that the diocese and its bishop were not interested in helping the enquiries in any way. He also attended a meeting at Lambeth. While there was less overt hostility, the atmosphere was still one ‘how do we get Bishop Ball off?’ rather than ‘how do we uncover the truth?’ The information that was gathered by Murdock which led to Ball’s police caution, might have been assisted by interviewing the writers of 7 letters which had been sent to Lambeth. Lambeth claimed that no one asked for them, while Inspector Murdock had assumed that such material would be automatically handed over.

The second investigation of Ball by Sussex police proceeded with a far higher level of cooperation between police and Lambeth Palace between 2012 to 2015. Lambeth allowed one of its members of staff to be seconded to help with the enquiry. This was especially important as the police in Sussex found it hard to understand much of the church procedure and culture. Superintendent Hughes made very good witness for the Inquiry and, as with Murdock, one was impressed by their constant professionalism and desire to uncover the truth without showing fear or favour. The topic of the Prince of Wales came up once more. We were assured that he did not interfere in the investigations at any stage.

We return to the thought that the Church has in these hearings shown itself remarkably clumsy and inept in the task of uncovering the facts of an offence and dealing with the consequences. While the police have procedures as well as a dedication not to let themselves be blinded by other issues, the church often seems to stagger around in a sea of bias, deference and subjectivity. What we were shown today was how professional investigation of sex crimes actually works. Each of us watching were cheering on the complete dedication to truth and fact shown by these two policemen. If all policemen and women are as dedicated as this, then we, as a Church, should have no problems in handing over the responsibility for criminal investigation to such bodies. The church seems remarkably ill-equipped at delivering justice and truth in the face of evil and crime. Long live the professionalism that the police representatives showed us today.