It has been reported that the Crown Protective Services (CPS) are considering bringing charges of sexual abuse against the former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood.
The CPS’ decision will be based on a file of evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Police into multiple allegations of sexual abuse occurring between 1982 and 2016.
Westwood was previously accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women and of abusing his power when he was at the height of his career within the music industry. He has rejected all allegations of wrongdoing.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy – who is leading the investigation with his team – said: “A file of evidence has now been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and our team continues to make enquiries, with support from prosecutors. We will thoroughly and properly investigate sexual offences as part of our commitment to making London safer for women and girls,”(as per BBC).
A CPS spokesperson said: “We can confirm we received a file from the Metropolitan Police Service regarding allegations of non-recent sexual offences allegedly committed by a man in his 60s. ”Prosecutors for the CPS will now decide whether to bring charges against Westwood.
The Met police also shared a statement that read: “A man in his 60s has been interviewed under caution on four separate occasions. The offences are alleged to have occurred in London between 1982 and 2016”.
Back in 2022, an external review was launched about Westwood, which followed a slew of sexual misconduct allegations by multiple women in a joint investigation by The Guardian and BBC News.
The BBC also confirmed in July 2022 that it had received six allegations of misconduct against Westwood, one of which was handed over to police. The DJ was accused of the statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl when he was in his 30s.
Westwood stepped down from his Capital Xtra radio show shortly after the initial allegations were published, while consistently denying all claims raised against him.
In July, a BBC spokesperson confirmed that the report by barrister Gemma White KC had been completed. White wrote to people who took part in the review to provide them with an insight into the current status. The BBC was “at the stage of going through certain important legal processes before it is in a position to publish the findings” – this included “avoiding any negative impact on any police investigation”, the update read.
Last year, it was then reported that Westwood had been interviewed under caution by police in relation to five sexual offence allegations that are said to have occurred in London between 1982 and 2016.
Months later, a 24-hour hotline opened, allowing people to anonymously provide evidence regarding Tim Westwood‘s alleged sexual misconduct. It was reported shortly afterwards that the helpline had received a “significant amount of important new information”, and, in October 2023, it was confirmed that the DJ had been interviewed by the Metropolitan Police for the fourth time.
Recently, The Metropolitan Police Service warned that parts of a BBC report into the allegations made against the former DJ “may interfere with justice” if published.
A Met Police spokesperson shared an update with BBC News that read: “We have seen the report and made recommendations to the BBC as to which sections of the report may interfere with justice if published.”
The report is due to be published sometime within this month.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
