Beds Police investigated in Ian Watkins case

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the force along with South Wales and South Yorkshire Police in connection with their handling of allegations that the lead singer of the Lostprophets was abusing children.

Watkins was given a 35 year sentence including 29 years in prison yesterday.

The IPCC is investigating the effectiveness of the forces’ response to reports of abuse made to them between 2008 and 2012.

Following a referral on December 4 2013, the IPCC is independently investigating Beds Police’s handling of information from a member of the public who reported an allegation of child abuse against Watkins to the force in October 2012.

The force Professional Standards Department initially investigated a complaint and found that no action was necessary and notified the complainant of their findings in September 2013.

Beds Police has now received a further complaint that the member of the public is not satisfied with the force’s actions in October 2012 and the IPCC has begun an independent investigation.

IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams said: “No-one can fail to be shocked by the vile details of Ian Watkins offending that emerged in court last month.

“As the criminal proceedings have now ended, questions are now rightly being asked as to whether Ian Watkins could have been brought to justice sooner, what steps were taken by police in response to allegations made against him as far back as 2008 and whether his celebrity status had any impact on the investigation.

“That is exactly what the IPCC is seeking to establish.

“We now have three separate independent investigations into South Wales, South Yorkshire and Bedfordshire Police running alongside each other involving the handling of information held on Mr Watkins prior to his arrest.

“But this is complex and will take time. There are clearly links between the three investigations which cover a four year period and involve numerous allegations and reports and the police response to each must be considered.”

Within a referral to the IPCC from South Wales Police, four other forces were named as having provided information to the force.

As a result of this, the IPCC wrote to South Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and Essex forces, and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), in February 2013 asking them to carry out a review of all the relevant information they held relating to the case.

The IPCC is now carrying out three separate independent investigations