IPCC serves further notices as part of ongoing investigations into handling of allegations against Ian Watkins
21 May 2014 01:11 PM
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has served gross
misconduct notices on three South Yorkshire Police officers, two Bedfordshire
Police officers and a South Wales police officer as part of its ongoing
investigations into the handling of allegations against Ian
Watkins.
The IPCC has three independent investigations ongoing focussed on the
response of South Wales Police, Bedfordshire Police and South Yorkshire Police
to allegations that Mr Watkins was abusing children.
The three South Yorkshire Police officers, one sergeant and two police
constables, have been served with notices advising them that
their conduct is subject to investigation. The
IPCC is investigating complaints around the handling of three reports made to
the force between March and May 2012 which contained allegations against Mr
Watkins with potential evidence.
The IPCC is also investigating Bedfordshire Police’s handling of
information from a member of the public who reported
an allegation of child abuse against Mr Watkins to the force
in October 2012. A sergeant and a constable have been served with notices
advising them their conduct is
under investigation.
The South Wales Police detective constable, who was attached to the Child
Protection Unit, is the second officer from the force to be investigated.
The IPCC has received a substantial amount of documentation from the three
forces which is being analysed by investigators.
IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams said:
"We are making good progress with our three independent investigations
and as result of our enquiries IPCC investigators have served notices on six
further officers as part of the
ongoing investigation – three from South Yorkshire
Police, two from Bedfordshire Police and a second from South Wales Police.
Arrangements are being made to interview the officers in the coming weeks.
"We have now conducted two interviews with a detective sergeant from
South Wales Police about his actions in relation to information about Ian
Watkins. We anticipate he will be interviewed again in the near future.
"We are continuing to gather and analyse information in all three
investigations in order to establish what steps were taken by police in
response to the allegations made against Ian Watkins, whether he could have
been brought to justice sooner and whether his celebrity status had any impact
on those investigations.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Serving a police officer/member of staff with a notice advises them
their conduct is subject
to investigation – such notices are not judgmental in
any way.
The IPCC was notified by South Wales Police on 4 March that Joanne
Mjadzelics had been charged with possessing and distributing indecent images of
children, and inciting criminal activity. The decision to charge Joanne
Mjadzelics has no bearing on the IPCC investigation at this
stage. Miss Mjadzelics was interviewed by IPCC investigators at the end of
February in relation to our investigation.
For media queries please contact the IPCC press office on 0207 166 3134