WIREDGOV

Misconduct proceedings for three officers will take place following the completion of investigations by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into how South Wales Police handled allegations of child abuse against then Lostprophets singer, Ian Watkins. 

The IPCC has carried out two investigations into how the force responded to reports and intelligence dating back to December 2008 made to South Wales Police (SWP) by either members of the public, Crimestoppers, or other police forces about Ian Watkins’ paedophile activities, prior to his arrest in late 2012. 

At the conclusion of one investigation, the IPCC investigator recommended that a detective sergeant has a case to answer for gross misconduct, and in the other that he has a case to answer for misconduct. In the IPCC investigator’s view the officer did not take sufficient action to progress enquiries, and contributed to allegations from a main witness being treated as unfounded. The IPCC investigator was also of the view that two detective constables have a case to answer for misconduct, as they did not undertake all reasonable and practicable lines of enquiry. 

A third investigation involving the same detective sergeant, based in the force’s Northern Command Unit, recommended he has a further case to answer for gross misconduct due to his lack of action in response to an allegation against a different suspect that a 15-year-old girl had been raped. 

The IPCC submitted its investigation reports to SWP, and the force has agreed to take forward disciplinary proceedings against the detective sergeant and two detective constables. 

IPCC Commissioner for Wales, Jan Williams, said:

“Having completed detailed investigations over recent months we have liaised with South Wales Police over our misconduct recommendations. We probed a substantial number of reports and allegations relating to Ian Watkins made over a four year period to establish exactly who knew what and when, and how police officers responded. This has been a complex process. 

“We aim to issue our fuller findings, including our examination of the wider organisational response of South Wales Police, following the conclusion of the misconduct proceedings currently being arranged by the force.” 

The IPCC is soon to submit its investigation report to South Yorkshire Police into how the force handled a report made in March 2012, which contained allegations against Watkins with potential evidence. The IPCC issued its findings last year from an investigation into how Bedfordshire Police handled allegations related to Watkins.

Notes to Editors

Ian Watkins, former singer with the Lostprophets, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court in December 2013 to 29 years’ imprisonment for serious child sexual offences