The U.Ok. authorities has “raised concerns” with the BBC after Huw Edwards, as soon as the broadcaster’s highest-paid information anchor and most recognizable presenter, pleaded responsible to creating indecent pictures of kids earlier this week.
The 62-year-old, who led landmark protection for the BBC together with its announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s demise and the London 2012 Olympics, was arrested in November – a improvement solely shared with the public this week – and charged final month. On Wednesday, he made his pleas throughout a quick listening to at Westminster Magistrates Court docket in the U.Ok. capital.
The offenses are alleged to have taken place between 2020 and 2022. Edwards admitted having 41 indecent pictures of kids, despatched to him by one other man on WhatsApp. This included seven class A pictures, the most extreme classification, two of which confirmed a toddler between seven and 9, the courtroom heard.
The Metropolitan Police additionally revealed the man who despatched the pictures to Edwards was a convicted paedophile. The anchorman, who hosted the BBC’s flagship Information at Ten program, arrived at the courtroom expressionless and flanked by eight cops. He faces a jail sentence.
The U.Ok.’s high broadcaster is now dealing with a grilling on simply what it knew about Edwards’ habits and when, in addition to why he wasn’t sacked as quickly as they have been alerted of his arrest. An arrest won’t have been ample sufficient to fireplace him, particularly if it later turned out the BBC axed Edwards over claims that weren’t true. But when conserving him on as an worker and persevering with to pay his huge wage for 5 months after the arrest was a name from high execs at the BBC, the optics may result in some reputational fallout.
The Tradition Secretary, Labour’s Lisa Nandy, spoke to BBC director-general Tim Davie on the telephone on Thursday to question the group’s dealing with of the case. A spokesperson for the U.Ok.’s Division of Tradition, Media, and Sport (DCMS) informed The Hollywood Reporter on Friday that Nandy is “shocked” by Edwards’ “abhorrent actions”. The DCMS mentioned it’s now for the judiciary to determine on “an appropriate sentence” for the former information anchor.
“The BBC is operationally and editorially independent, but given the incredibly serious nature of this issue, the Secretary of State has spoken to the BBC to raise concerns on a number of points regarding the handling of their own investigations into Huw Edwards, what safeguards and processes had been followed in this case, and additionally, what further action may be taken, especially with regard to the handling of licence fee payers’ money,” the spokesperson continued.
Nandy “sought assurance” from Davie that the BBC has strong processes in place relating to non-editorial complaints and the dealing with of advanced contractual issues, “so that in future it can act at pace and be transparent with the public at the earliest opportunity to ensure trust is maintained.”
“She has asked to be kept updated by the BBC on future developments in this particular case.”
The BBC was informed by the Metropolitan Police “in strict confidence” that Edwards was arrested in November.
In an interview with BBC Information on Thursday, Davie mentioned the company had “taken difficult decisions in a fair and judicious manner”. Edwards was, at his peak, paid a wage of £475,000 (round $605,000), however in the months after his suspension acquired an annual wage of £200,000 ($254,000).
“We knew it was serious, we knew no specifics, apart from the category of the potential offenses,” Davie mentioned. He mentioned bosses at the BBC weren’t conscious of the ages of the youngsters in the pictures, and when requested why Edwards was not sacked at the time of his arrest, Davie responded: “Because the police came to us and said they need to do their work in total confidence, [and said], ‘please keep this confidential’.”
“We thought long and hard about this. This wasn’t a kneejerk decision. When you think about this in terms of precedent, people do get arrested, and then we’ve had situations where [there are] no charges, and there’s nothing there to be followed up on.” He added that the BBC additionally needed to contemplate its obligation of care to Edwards.
Beneath British regulation, pictures can imply pictures or movies. “Making” indecent pictures covers a variety of actions per its authorized definition. It might, for instance, embody opening an electronic mail attachment with a picture, downloading a picture from an internet site to a display screen; storing a picture on a pc; accessing a pornographic web site during which pictures seem in “pop-up” home windows; or receiving a picture through social media, even when unsolicited and if a part of a gaggle; in addition to live-streaming pictures of kids.
The BBC suspended Edwards in July final 12 months, over allegations, additionally made by The Solar, that he paid a youngster for sexually specific pictures. Police didn’t take any motion in opposition to Edwards regarding these claims, saying there was no proof {that a} felony offense had been dedicated.
As these allegations emerged, Edwards was confirmed by his spouse, Vicky Flind, to be in hospital with “serious” psychological well being points final summer season. After taking a 10-month depart of absence, Edwards resigned from the BBC in April on medical grounds.
In a separate assertion following Edwards’ plea, the BBC mentioned it was “shocked” to listen to the particulars that emerged in courtroom. “There can be no place for such abhorrent behavior and our thoughts are with all those affected,” a spokesperson mentioned on Wednesday.
“The BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation,” the BBC continued. Nonetheless, no prices had been introduced in opposition to Edwards at the moment and the broadcaster had been conscious of great threat to his well being.
The BBC then mentioned it had solely discovered the conclusion of the police course of in the particulars revealed in courtroom on Wednesday. “If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him.”
“In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC,” it continued. However throughout this era and “in the usual way,” the BBC stored its company administration of those points separate from its impartial editorial features.
