BBC sorry for ‘missed alternatives’ over DJ Tim Westwood’s ‘bullying behaviour’

The BBC board has apologised over “missed alternatives” to sort out “bullying and misogynistic behaviour” by former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood.

An impartial report into what the BBC knew about Mr Westwood’s conduct was revealed on Tuesday, highlighting a collection of incidents and allegations it stated quantities to a “appreciable physique of proof” that it failed to research correctly.

The report additionally stated the BBC had “insufficient document preserving and communication with individuals who raised complaints or considerations”, including there was “an insufficiently rigorous try to handle the substance of considerations raised.”

The BBC had beforehand acknowledged six complaints about bullying and sexual misconduct. In a video that appeared on social media final 12 months, the DJ stated: “It is all false allegations.”

The BBC board admitted it didn’t “take sufficient motion”, saying: “It’s clear that previously, the BBC has not solely been too siloed however too deferential to high-profile people.”

Gemma White KC, who led the report commissioned by the BBC board in 2022, highlighted that some workers felt uncomfortable elevating grievances with administration in regards to the DJ.

“Those that spoke or wrote to me referred to a sense that they may not elevate points with the controller or different individuals in senior administration due to the significance of the ‘expertise’ to Radio 1/1Xtra.

“There was a sense that presenters had been valued over manufacturing workers and that senior administration had been prone to facet with presenters.”

Ms White famous there was proof of senior administration “reacting firmly to public complaints regarding Tim Westwood” and that there was additionally “proof of their intention to create an setting through which workers would really feel in a position to elevate considerations”.

However she added the “mixture of the dearth of ritual adopted in respect of considerations about office misconduct which had been raised, and the kind of materials which was broadcast on air” is prone to have led to an setting through which workers didn’t really feel assured that office conduct considerations in regards to the DJ “can be correctly addressed.”

Greater than 120 people contributed to the assessment and 1000’s of data from the time had been examined, the BBC Board stated.

The BBC board stated: “Past assessing any alleged criminality, which is a matter for the police, it’s clear there have been instances the place the BBC, on studying about considerations concerning Mr Westwood’s behaviour, didn’t take sufficient motion.

“There’s proof of bullying and misogynistic behaviour on the a part of Mr Westwood and the plain reality is that his normal conduct was completely incompatible with BBC values – not simply now, however then. The organisation fell brief and failed individuals – together with our personal workers – who had a proper to anticipate higher from us.”

The report, which has price roughly £3.3m, discovered “there was no widespread or important or BBC information of allegations or considerations about predatory sexual behaviour by Mr Westwood” however there have been “cases the place the organisation missed alternatives that may have led to motion.”

The BBC says it has since improved its processes.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson instructed the BBC: “A full file of proof stays with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for his or her consideration. Detectives from the Met proceed to make enquiries, with assist from prosecutors.”

The report follows a joint investigation by BBC Information and The Guardian in 2022 which heard from girls who made allegations of predatory and undesirable sexual behaviour and touching.

The allegations revealed by BBC Information spanned the interval from 1992 to 2017, when the 67-year-old was on the top of his profession as a number one hip hop DJ.

Mr Westwood, who has not responded to the BBC’s requests for remark, had a gig in Oyo state in Nigeria on Monday.

In December, the Met and the Crime Prosecution Service requested the BBC to pause the publication of the report “to permit for additional time to contemplate any potential influence on the investigation.”

The report has been revealed with redactions on police request.

In 2022, BBC Information broadcast accusations by 18 girls of predatory and undesirable sexual behaviour and touching by Mr Westwood, in alleged incidents from 1992 to 2017.

Following the joint investigation, the BBC’s director normal Tim Davie stated in April 2022 that the claims towards the DJ had been “appalling”.

He added he had “seen no proof of complaints” being made to BBC managers about Westwood’s behaviour up to now.

Mr Davie was director of audio and music, together with BBC Radio 1, on the company on the time, between 2008 and 2012.

Westwood, 67, was a presenter on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra between 1994 and 2013, the place he hosted the UK’s first nationally broadcast hip-hop present.

In July 2022, the BBC revealed it had acquired six complaints about alleged bullying or sexual misconduct by Mr Westwood, certainly one of which had beforehand been referred to police.

Then in August, the Metropolitan Police confirmed it was investigating a person over allegations of of non-recent sexual offences in London in 1982, 1985, 2010 and 2016.

A Met spokesperson stated on Monday: “A full file of proof stays with the CPS for his or her consideration. Detectives from the Met proceed to make enquiries, with assist from prosecutors.”

The BBC introduced particulars of a assessment into its office tradition final 12 months, specializing in “stopping abuse of energy and making certain everybody on the BBC conducts themselves consistent with our values”.

The company introduced the assessment within the wake of revelations about Huw Edwards, previously its most senior information presenter, who dedicated offences involving youngster abuse photographs.

It is anticipated to be revealed later this 12 months.