Tim Westwood, the former Radio 1 hip-hop DJ with a net worth of $13 million, is reportedly facing s*xual abuse charges. The Crown Protective Services (CPS) is considering pressing charges after the Metropolitan Police submitted incriminating evidence against him over old allegations according to The Guardian.
Tim Westwood is most known for his work on the Radio 1 Rap Show. He also had a stint on the drivetime show on sister station 1Xtra. However, he eventually moved on to Capital Xtra in 2013, just when it changed names from Choice FM. Westwood departed the station in April 2022, after the allegations came to light.
Tim Westwood refutes the mounting allegations against him
The inquiries stem from a joint investigation, executed by The Guardian and BBC News in 2022, which saw several women bring forth allegations. They contended that he took advantage of his position in the industry to get what he wanted out of them.
According to the outlet, the abuse took place several times between 1992 and 2017, when Tim Westwood was in his heyday. Westwood vehemently refuted all the allegations when the news outlet's investigations came to light in April 2022.
The outlet also reported that at the time, a spokesperson backed Westwood up, noting that none of it was true. However, after the initial investigation was published, six more women came forth with allegations in July 2022. Dept Supt. Andy Furphy, who is in charge of the leading team for the investigation, said, per BBC:
"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."
A spokesperson for CPS also weighed in:
"We can confirm we received a file from the Metropolitan police service regarding allegations of non-recent sexual offenses allegedly committed by a man in his 60s.”
It remains to be seen whether the prosecutors for CPS decide to press charges. The Metropolitan Police also shared a statement that read:
“A man in his 60s has been interviewed under caution on four separate occasions. The offenses are alleged to have occurred in London between 1982 and 2016."
According to BBC, officers have confirmed that the investigation is being carried out independently of the Hydrant Programme “at this stage of the ongoing investigation.”
The Hydrant Programme was established in 2014 which aims "to deliver the national policing response, oversight, and coordination of non-recent child sexual abuse investigations concerning persons of public prominence."
Per the outlet, officers have pointed out that the ordeal is "complex and sensitive" and their "absolute priority is to maintain the integrity of the investigation and support and retain the confidence of potential victims. We must also be sure there is no risk of jigsaw identification."
Furthermore, all the women who came forth to BBC were reportedly black, and all of them claimed they got to know Tim Westwood through the industry. In August 2022, the outlet commissioned an independent review, championed by Gemma White KC. However, while it was confirmed this July that the report had been completed, the findings have yet to come out.
An update revealed that the BBC was “at the stage of going through certain important legal processes before it can be in a position to publish the findings.” This included “avoiding any negative impact on any police investigation." Just last month, the Met warned the outlet that the review could “interfere with justice” should it come out.
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According to NME, last year, Tim Westwood was interrogated for the first time in relation to the alleged offenses. Within a short time span, a 24-hour hotline was launched, one that allowed people to anonymously call in and offer evidence pertaining to Westwood's purported misconduct.
Per the outlet, the helpline was inundated with a “significant amount of important new information”, and by October 2023, Tim Westwood was interrogated by the Met for the fourth time.
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