Prosecutors are considering bringing charges against the former Radio 1 hip-hop DJ Tim Westwood, after detectives investigating allegations of non-recent sexual abuse submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The criminal inquiries began after a joint investigation by the Guardian and BBC News in 2022 heard from women who accused the DJ of sexual misconduct and misusing his position in the music industry to take advantage of them.
The allegations date from 1992 to 2017, when the DJ was one of the best-known names in hip-hop and rap. He began hosting BBC Radio 1’s first Rap Show in 1994, and was credited with giving new talent an unparalleled platform.
Westwood denied the allegations when the Guardian and the BBC published the investigation in April 2022. A spokesperson said at the time they were completely false and denied in their entirety. More women approached the news outlets after the publication of the initial investigation.
Det Supt Andy Furby, whose team is leading the investigation, said officers were continuing their inquiries and were providing specialist support to those who had come forward.
“A file of evidence has now been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service and our team continues to make inquiries, with support from prosecutors. We will throughly and properly investigate sexual offences as part of our commitment to making London safer for women and girls.”
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.”
In a statement, the Met said: “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.”
The BBC commissioned an independent review, led by Gemma White KC, in August 2022 to examine Westwood’s 20-year-career at the corporation. After the allegations were published, the BBC revealed it had received six historical complaints of bullying or sexual misconduct against the DJ. It said the review would take about six months, but it has yet to be published. Last month the Met warned that parts of the review could “interfere with justice” if put in the public domain.
Westwood, who left the BBC after 20 years in 2013, stepped down from his show on Capital Xtra in April 2022, a little more than 24 hours after the allegations were published.
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