The Roman Catholic Church has ordered a wholesale review of child protection across the South West of England after the official in charge of investigating sexual abuse allegations was convicted of internet paedophile offences, The Times has learnt. Chris Jarvis, the former child safeguarding officer for the Diocese of Plymouth, will be sentenced today for possessing 4,000 images of children being abused, including some in the most serious category. The disclosure that the Church employed a paedophile in a child protection role will add to the mounting sense of crisis in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales over its handling of cases of clerical sexual abuse. This week The Times reported that the Vatican had ordered a highlevel inquiry into concerns about decades of abuse at Ealing Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in West London, and the attached independent school, St Benedict’s. There are now likely to be calls for that inquiry to be extended to a national review. At the time of his arrest Jarvis, a former social worker, was leading an investigation into an historic sex abuse allegation at Buckfast Abbey, another Benedictine monastery, in Devon. He had been responsible for child protection at 120 churches and parish community groups for nine years. The review in the South West has been ordered by the Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Rev Christopher Budd, and will cover child protection arrangements in Devon

David Cameron will strike a deal today to abolish a 300-year-old ruling that means the eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could not be crowned Queen if she had a younger brother. David Cameron intends to tear up the historic law at a meeting with the 15 leaders of the Queen’s realms in Perth. The agreement will begin the process of overturning the tradition that gives male heirs precedence over elder sisters. It will also clear the way for an heir to throne to be able to marry a Roman Catholic and still succeed to the Crown. Speaking before the Commonwealth summit, where he will host the meeting, Mr Cameron said: “These rules are outdated and need to change. The idea that a younger son should become monarch instead of an elder daughter simply because he is a man just isn’t acceptable any more.” Mr Cameron added: “Nor does it make any s

Europe made a desperate appeal to China for financial help yesterday in a move that underscored the precipitous decline in the continent’s economic strength. But as President Sarkozy admitted that it had been a mistake to allow Greece to join the euro ten years ago, he faced a backlash at home for chasing Beijing’s $3.2 trillion reserves to secure the future of the single currency. The courtship triggered consternation in Western capitals amid concern that China would demand far-reaching political and economic concessions in return for extending aid. Mr Sarkozy spoke to President Hu as he sought backing for the European rescue fund after the late-night deal to save the euro. The fund’s chief, Klaus Regling, is due to fly to Beijing today to woo investors. There were fears in Britain that the euro deal, while uniting eurozone countries, would diminish th