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Met Police concludes inquiry into Huw Edwards and issues major update

12 July 2023 , 17:25
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Met Police concludes inquiry into Huw Edwards (Image: BBC)
Met Police concludes inquiry into Huw Edwards (Image: BBC)

The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement after carrying out inquiries into allegations surrounding a BBC presenter, who has now been identified as Huw Edwards.

The presenter scandal was suspended following allegations he paid a young person £35,000 for explicit photos.

On Wednesday, his wife Vicky Flind released a statement identifying Mr Edwards as the presenter at the centre of the claims.

She said her husband is suffering from severe mental health issues but intends to respond to the allegations when well enough to do so.

Separately, a police statement tonight reads: "Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed.

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"In reaching this decision, they have spoken to a number of parties including the BBC and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainant’s family, both via another police force. There is no further police action. As such, the Met has advised the BBC it can continue with its internal investigation.

Met Police concludes inquiry into Huw Edwards and issues major updateThe Met Police have concluded their investigation (BBC)

"We are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual. No specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time.
"Should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point we would expect matters to be referred to the relevant police force."

A BBC spokesperson said: “We have seen the statement from the police confirming they have completed their assessment and are not taking further action. We’re grateful to them for completing this work at speed.

“The police had previously asked us to pause our fact finding investigations and we will now move forward with that work, ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved.”

The Sun reported the-then unnamed presenter paid a young person for explicit photos beginning when they were 17. These claims were made by the young person's family and were subsequently denied by a lawyer presenting the young person in question.

A second young person told the BBC on Tuesday that the presenter sent them abusive messages after first making contact on a dating app while The Sun reported further allegations, claiming the presenter broke lockdown rules in 2021 to meet someone from a dating site.

On Wednesday, Vicky named her husband as the man at the centre of the allegations in a statement issued on his behalf.

The statement read: "In light of the recent reporting regarding the 'BBC Presenter' I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family.

"I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children. Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.

"The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future. Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.

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"To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday. In the circumstances and given Huw's condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected. I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end."

*If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk

Charlotte McIntyre

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