BBC Faces Calls For Independent Inquiry Into Star DJ Abuse Complaints – Deadline

The BBC faces contemporary strain over its dealing with of complaints into the behaviour of its former long-time DJ Tim Westwood, with the retired decide who led the overview into the Jimmy Savile Scandal backing requires an impartial inquiry.

Dame Janet Smith informed The Instances an neutral determine was required to scrutinise complaints made in opposition to the DJ, accused of sexual misconduct by 17 girls – all whose claims he denies.

She stated: “An impartial inquiry is at all times higher than an inside one as a result of, nonetheless goal you assume you might be, you aren’t, full cease.”

The BBC will shortly launch the outcomes of its personal inside overview into the complaints after director-general Tim Davie – who was beforehand head of Audio and Music on the company, making him Westwood’s final boss for 4 years – initially asserted that the BBC had seen “no proof” of the DJ’s alleged behaviour.

When six complaints of bullying and sexual misconduct obtained by the BBC did come to mild, Davie’s confusion was blamed on an “human assets mix-up” and the inner overview initiated. The BBC’s company investigations and inside audit staff will report its findings within the subsequent couple of weeks.

The DJ labored on the BBC between 1994 and 2013, the place he loved a popularity as extremely influential on the earth of rap music, earlier than shifting to industrial competitor International. The Metropolitan Police can also be inspecting a declare that Westwood had intercourse with a 14-year-old.