Met Police needs ‘additional information’ from BBC about allegations

The BBC has been in touch with the police alongside conducting its own inquiries and talking to the family of the teenager.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “The Met has received initial contact from the BBC in relation to this matter, but no formal referral or allegation has been made.

“We will require additional information before determining what further action should follow.”

BBC director-general Tim Davie spoke to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer on Sunday about the BBC investigation (Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)

On Sunday, July 9, Cultural Secretary Lucy Frazer said she spoke to BBC director-general Tim Davie who assured her the BBC was investigating the claims “swiftly and sensitively”, she tweeted.

Male member of staff at the BBC suspended

Also on Sunday, the BBC confirmed that a male member of staff had been suspended.

A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC first became aware of a complaint in May.

“New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols.

“We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended.

“We expect to be in a position to provide a further update in the coming days as the process continues.

“The BBC board will continue to be kept up to date.”

I have spoken to BBC Director General Tim Davie about the deeply concerning allegations involving one of its presenters. He has assured me the BBC are investigating swiftly and sensitively.

— Lucy Frazer (@lucyfrazermp) July 9, 2023

The BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC takes any allegations seriously and we have robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations.

“This is a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps.

“It is important that these matters are handled fairly and with care.

“We have been clear that if – at any point – new information comes to light or is provided to us, this will be acted upon appropriately and actively followed up.”