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The Metropolitan Police is awaiting further information before deciding whether to launch a criminal investigation into the allegations of a top BBC presenter paying a teenager for explicit images.
Detectives from the Met’s specialist crime command recently met with BBC executives where it was clarified that no investigation is currently underway. Additional inquiries are being conducted before they determine if a criminal offense has been committed.
The BBC only notified the police the day after being approached by The Sun newspaper with a series of articles accusing the presenter of paying a teenager, who was 17 at the time, tens of thousands of pounds for sexual images.
The presenter continued to appear on air until the mother reported the situation to The Sun, resulting in the presenter’s suspension on Sunday. This delay has raised concerns among MPs regarding the BBC’s handling of the matter.
The prime minister expressed concern about the allegations but maintains confidence in the director-general of the BBC.
Tim Davie, the BBC boss, will face increased scrutiny following the release of the annual report on Tuesday, which includes the handling of this scandal.
MPS are calling for an investigation into the BBC’s handling of this serious scandal in order to determine how much they knew after the initial complaint was made in May.
The House of Commons’ culture, media, and sport select committee will be convening an emergency meeting to discuss summoning Davie to explain his actions. This meeting is expected to take place before the summer recess.
The identity of the presenter involved in the scandal has not been disclosed out of respect for privacy. However, various BBC stars have denied any involvement.
The BBC has been cautious about this situation, as the scrutiny surrounding the presenter’s identity has caused uncertainty among even high-ranking BBC executives.
In a memo to staff, Davie revealed that the BBC investigations team has been actively following up on the allegations since May, but new allegations of a different nature emerged on Thursday.
Senior BBC executives have acknowledged the damaging impact of such allegations on the broadcaster, referring to the previous scandal involving Jimmy Savile. The handling of that situation led to the downfall of the director-general at that time.
If the current allegations were known earlier, the decision to not suspend the presenter could have severe consequences for the BBC and its director-general.
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