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The BBC has paused the investigation while police conduct scoping work relating to the allegations.
12:14, Tue, Jul 11, 2023 | UPDATED: 13:14, Tue, Jul 11, 2023
The BBC did not contact the presenter in question until seven weeks after the initial complaint (Image: GETTY)
The BBC has revealed staff did not speak with the presenter embroiled in an explicit images scandal until last week, seven weeks after the broadcaster was first made aware of a complaint.
The corporation released a timeline of events today that shows it was first made aware of the allegations on May 18.
But representatives did not speak with the presenter until last week, on July 6, seven weeks after the fact.
The timeline shows the investigation has gathered steam over the last few days since The Sun reported allegations brought forward by a family member of the teenager at the centre of the scandal.
The then-teenager, now reportedly aged 20, has come forward to deny that anything inappropriate or unlawful happened.
And the BBC is yet to name the presenter at the controversy’s centre, stating only that they are male and have been suspended.
Mr Davie said he has not spoken with the presenter in question (Image: GETTY)
The BBC’s account of events is as follows:
Thursday, May 18: The complainant (a family member) attends a BBC building to make a complaint about a BBC presenterFriday, May 19: The complainant contacts BBC Audience Services; the details are referred to the BBC’s Corporate Investigations TeamFriday, May 19: BBC’s Corporate Investigations Team emails complainant seeking additional information – there was no responseTuesday, June 6: Having received no response to the email, a phone call was made to the mobile number provided by the complainant – this call did not connect
The timeline adds that “no additional attempts to contact the complainant were made after 6 June, however the case remained open throughout”, before The Sun contacted the BBC last week.
The BBC’s timeline from then is as follows:
Thursday, July 6: The Sun informs the BBC via the press office of allegations concerning a BBC presenter – the source of the claims was from the same family as approached the BBC on 18 and 19 May. This is the first time the director general or any executive directors were aware of the case, the BBC saysThursday, July 6: The BBC launches an “incident management group”, involving senior BBC executives including the director generalThursday, July 6: Senior manager holds first conversation on this matter with the presenter concernedFriday, July 7: The BBC’s Corporate Investigations team contact the complainant again, who was in touch with the BBC’s investigatorsFriday, July 7: BBC makes contact with policeSaturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9: Complainant sends the BBC “some materials related to the complaint”Sunday, July 9: BBC confirms presenter is suspendedMonday, July 10: BBC meets police
The BBC said it has paused its investigation for now (Image: GETTY)
The timeline puts seven weeks between the family member’s initial contact and the presenter being spoken to.
The corporation said that Director-General Tim Davie was made aware of the allegations on the same day as the presenter.
Speaking earlier today during a press briefing related to the BBC’s Annual Report, he said the initial allegation was “very serious”.
Mr Davie said: “We did receive a call on May 19.
“That was taken by the audiences services team who then make a summary of the call. It did not include an allegation of criminality – but was very serious.”
He said he has not spoken to the presenter concerned, adding: “We need to run a fair process and navigate the course fairly and transparently.”
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In a statement earlier today, the BBC said it had met with the Metropolitan Police, and at its request, paused its investigation.
The corporation said: “As a result of this meeting, the BBC has been asked to pause its investigations into the allegations while the police scope future work.
“The BBC has processes and protocols for receiving information and managing complaints when they are first made. We always take these matters extremely seriously and seek to manage them with the appropriate duty of care.
“The events of recent days have shown how complex and challenging these kinds of cases can be and how vital it is that they are handled with the utmost diligence and care.
“There will, of course, be lessons to be learned following this exercise.”
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