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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Emine Sinmaz

DJ Tim Westwood interviewed under caution over sexual offence allegations

Tim Westwood
Tim Westwood was a DJ at BBC Radio 1 from 1994 to 2013, and later at Capital Xtra. Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer

The DJ Tim Westwood has been interviewed under caution by the Metropolitan police in relation to five sexual offence allegations dating back more than 40 years.

The 65-year-old was interviewed in March and again last week in relation to offences allegedly committed in London between 1982 and 2016.

A statement from the Met did not name Westwood, who was a DJ at BBC Radio 1 from 1994 to 2013.

Last year, a joint investigation by the Guardian and BBC News published allegations of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour made by several women against Westwood. The DJ, who denied all the allegations, subsequently stepped down from his show on Capital Xtra.

A Met police spokesperson said: “Police are investigating five reports relating to allegations of non-recent sexual offences allegedly committed by a man. The offences are alleged to have occurred in London between 1982 and 2016.

“A 65-year-old man was interviewed under caution on 15 March 2023 and 4 April 2023. There has been no arrest.”

The allegations span the period of Westwood’s employment at Capital Xtra, which is owned by Global, and the BBC.

Last July the BBC said it had received six complaints of alleged bullying and sexual misconduct relating to when the DJ was an employee, some of them received after publication of the first Guardian/BBC News stories.

The corporation has appointed Gemma White KC to lead an independent review of the allegations. It comes after an internal investigation in August found that the BBC may have missed chances to explore concerns raised over his behaviour.

In an investigation by the Guardian and BBC News published last April, seven women accused Westwood of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour.

He denied all the allegations, with a spokesperson saying they were “completely false” and that there had never been any complaints against him “officially or unofficially”.

Ten more women made claims of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour against Westwood in a further joint investigation in July. Westwood did not respond to a request for comment for that story.

Westwood has been approached for comment.

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