U.K. Detectives have submitted a new file of evidence to prosecutors regarding sexual abuse allegations against former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood.
This follows a 2022 investigation by BBC News and The Guardian in which women accused Westwood of predatory behavior and unwanted touching during his peak years in the music industry, spanning from 1992 to 2017. Westwood, now 66, has denied the allegations since their release in April 2022.
“A file of evidence has now been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and our team continues to make inquiries with support from prosecutors. We will thoroughly and properly investigate sexual offenses as part of our commitment to making London safer for women and girls,” Det. Supt Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, confirmed.
The CPS will now decide whether to press charges. A spokesperson for the CPS stated: “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.”
The Met Police has interviewed Westwood four times. The offenses allegedly occurred between 1982 and 2016. The investigation remains “complex and sensitive,” with officers focusing on victim confidentiality to avoid “jigsaw identification.”
All the women who came forward were Black and met Westwood through his work. In 2022, the BBC launched an external review into his 20-year tenure after six complaints of bullying or sexual misconduct surfaced. The review, originally expected to conclude in six months, has not been published. The Met Police has warned that parts of the review could “interfere with justice,” and the BBC has declined to comment. A freedom of information request revealed the BBC has spent over $3 million on the review.
Despite the mounting allegations, Westwood continues to deny all claims, calling them “false allegations.” He stepped down from his Capital Xtra show in April 2022. He has previously worked with several popular hip-hop names, including the Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy.
