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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ian Watkins child abuse: South Wales Police criticised | Ian Watkins child abuse: South Wales Police criticised |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police missed a number of chances to bring paedophile Ian Watkins to justice sooner, an investigation has found. | Police missed a number of chances to bring paedophile Ian Watkins to justice sooner, an investigation has found. |
| Between 2008 and 2012, South Wales Police failed to adequately act on eight reports and three intelligence logs from six people about the former Lostprophets frontman's intentions. | Between 2008 and 2012, South Wales Police failed to adequately act on eight reports and three intelligence logs from six people about the former Lostprophets frontman's intentions. |
| Watkins received a 35-year sentence in 2013 for 13 child sex offences. | Watkins received a 35-year sentence in 2013 for 13 child sex offences. |
| The force accepted the Independent Police Complaints Commission's (IPCC) findings and "serious concern" raised. | The force accepted the Independent Police Complaints Commission's (IPCC) findings and "serious concern" raised. |
| IPCC Commissioner for Wales Jan Williams said the way the reports were handled was subject to conscious or unconscious bias. | |
| "This investigation raised the most disturbing concerns about the way in which reports of Ian Watkins' sickening child abuse were handled between 2008 and 2012," she said. | |
| "Watkins' arrest for his depraved activities followed only after an arrest for drugs offences, an added cause for serious concern." | "Watkins' arrest for his depraved activities followed only after an arrest for drugs offences, an added cause for serious concern." |
| The IPCC investigation was launched in 2013 following a referral by South Wales Police. | |
| It found the force did not examine the mobile phone of Watkins' ex-girlfriend Joanne Mjadzelics in 2009, which had a message revealing his wish to have sex with children, and provided corroboration to other reports. | It found the force did not examine the mobile phone of Watkins' ex-girlfriend Joanne Mjadzelics in 2009, which had a message revealing his wish to have sex with children, and provided corroboration to other reports. |
| There was no evidence to show there was a lack of police action because of Watkins' celebrity status, however the belief that Ms Mjadzelics lacked credibility led to adequate steps not being taken to progress reports. | There was no evidence to show there was a lack of police action because of Watkins' celebrity status, however the belief that Ms Mjadzelics lacked credibility led to adequate steps not being taken to progress reports. |
| Ex-girlfriend 'vindicated' | |
| Several other individuals also came forward, some through Crimestoppers, with disturbing information about Watkins' behaviour, the IPCC found. | Several other individuals also came forward, some through Crimestoppers, with disturbing information about Watkins' behaviour, the IPCC found. |
| But it was the drugs arrest which led to further action. Watkins admitted the child sex offences and was told he must serve at least 29 years in prison. | But it was the drugs arrest which led to further action. Watkins admitted the child sex offences and was told he must serve at least 29 years in prison. |
| "In my view, all the reports made were subject to a biased response, whether this was conscious or unconscious," Ms Williams added. | "In my view, all the reports made were subject to a biased response, whether this was conscious or unconscious," Ms Williams added. |
| "Some were conflated with reports made by Ms Mjadzelics and were thus dismissed as lacking credibility. | "Some were conflated with reports made by Ms Mjadzelics and were thus dismissed as lacking credibility. |
| "All those involved in responding accepted the initial sceptical view of Ms Mjadzelics' reports, demonstrating a lack of open-mindedness and professional curiosity. | "All those involved in responding accepted the initial sceptical view of Ms Mjadzelics' reports, demonstrating a lack of open-mindedness and professional curiosity. |
| "This continued until 'the right type of complainant came along'." | "This continued until 'the right type of complainant came along'." |
| The report did not detail why police felt Ms Mjadzelics was considered to lack credibility or what the "right type of complainant" was. | |
| Ms Mjadzelics was cleared in 2015 of child sex abuse image offences. She claimed she had encouraged the singer to send the images in order to expose his criminality. | |
| She said the IPCC report "finally vindicates" her and "accepts that from the outset I was telling the truth and trying to bring a serious criminal sexual predator to justice". | |
| Ms Mjadzelics added: "The IPCC report highlights what I already believed about how South Wales Police treated me and others and whilst I am pleased it is now in the public domain I am seeking legal advice on further action against the police arising from the series of events and my treatment." | |
| 'Truly sorry' | 'Truly sorry' |
| South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said: "Today's report highlights a number of failings in which information about Watkins was investigated between 2008 and 2012 which the force entirely accepts and regrets. | South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said: "Today's report highlights a number of failings in which information about Watkins was investigated between 2008 and 2012 which the force entirely accepts and regrets. |
| "South Wales Police failed to listen and properly investigate information about Watkins' offending behaviour, for this we are truly sorry." | "South Wales Police failed to listen and properly investigate information about Watkins' offending behaviour, for this we are truly sorry." |
| Earlier this year, a detective sergeant was cleared of misconduct over the case and no further action was taken against two detective constables. | Earlier this year, a detective sergeant was cleared of misconduct over the case and no further action was taken against two detective constables. |
| The IPCC has also previously released findings from investigations into how South Yorkshire Police and Bedfordshire Police handled allegations made to them about Watkins. | The IPCC has also previously released findings from investigations into how South Yorkshire Police and Bedfordshire Police handled allegations made to them about Watkins. |
| Wales' Children's Commissioner Sally Holland said: "It is disturbing to think that such a catalogue of basic errors can take place in Wales in the 21st Century, which led to a four-year delay in bringing Watkins to justice. There can be no defence or excuse." | Wales' Children's Commissioner Sally Holland said: "It is disturbing to think that such a catalogue of basic errors can take place in Wales in the 21st Century, which led to a four-year delay in bringing Watkins to justice. There can be no defence or excuse." |
| NSPCC Cymru said the report's "damning conclusions should be a wake-up call for all those involved". |