CPS considers whether to charge ex-BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood as police hand over dossier of evidence into historic sex abuse allegations

Prosecutors are considering whether to charge ex- BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood after detectives handed over a file of evidence into historic sexual abuse allegations.

The Metropolitan Police has been investigating accusations made by a series of women relating to offences alleged to have happened between 1982 and 2016.

Officers have interviewed the 67-year-old presenter under caution four times since the claims were first published in April 2022 by BBC News and The Guardian.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, has now confirmed evidence has been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The CPS will now decide whether to bring charges against Westwood - with the Met also saying its team continued to investigate, with support from prosecutors.

The allegations made in 2022 were that Westwood had carried out predatory and unwanted sexual behaviour and touching over a period between 1992 and 2017.

But the DJ - who was more recently a host on Capital Xtra after leaving Radio 1 in 2013 - has always strenuously denied 'all allegations of inappropriate behaviour' and 'all allegations of wrongdoing'.

Mr Furphy told MailOnline today: 'Our officers continue to provide specialist support to those who have come forward.

'A file of evidence has now been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service and our team continues to make enquiries, with support from prosecutors.

'We will thoroughly and properly investigate sexual offences as part of our commitment to making London safer for women and girls.'

And a CPS spokesman said: 'We can confirm we received a file from the Metropolitan Police Service regarding allegations of non-recent sexual offences allegedly committed by a man in his 60s.'

Before making any charging decision, the CPS must be satisfied that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and that it would be in the public interest to pursue a prosecution. They do not give a timescale for charging decisions.

The Met also issued a statement to MailOnline saying: 'Detectives from the Met Police continue to investigate a number of reports relating to allegations of non-recent sexual offences allegedly committed by a man.

'As part of the investigation, a man in his 60s has been interviewed by officers under caution on four separate occasions. The offences are alleged to have occurred in London between 1982 and 2016.'

In August 2022, an independent inquiry into Westwood's conduct at the BBC was launched after the broadcaster said it had received six historic complaints of bullying or sexual misconduct against him.

At the time, the BBC expected barrister Gemma White KC's review to be finished in six months - so, by early 2023.

By July this year, the broadcaster said the inquiry had been completed, but needed time to be published due to the 'ongoing police investigation'.

The report was given to the BBC legal team earlier this year, and the corporation is thought to have been hoping to release it in the autumn - but it has still not come out.

Last month, it was revealed the Met warned the BBC that parts of the inquiry could 'interfere with justice' if published.

Data released under a Freedom of Information request earlier this year also revealed that the BBC has spent more than £3million on the review so far.

The DJ, who is the son of Bill Westwood, the former Anglican Bishop of Peterborough who died in 1999, began his career with local radio before joining Capital Radio in London and was later given his own show by BBC Radio 1.

Westwood was injured in a drive-by shooting in Kennington, South London, in July 1999, which left him in hospital.

In 2013, he left BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra after nearly 20 years and returned to Capital Radio.

He then presented a regular show on Saturday nights on Capital Xtra, where he was referred to as 'The Big Dawg', but stepped down in April 2022.

Often cited as an inspiration for Sacha Baron Cohen's fictional Ali G character, Westwood presented the MTV UK car makeover show Pimp My Ride UK, which ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2007.

A statement from a representative of Westwood in April 2022 said: 'Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

'In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially.

'Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing.'