BBC News have reported that three investigators involved in the child sex abuse case against former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins will face potential disciplinary action after flaws were allegedly found in their investigation.
Watkins was arrested and charged in 2013 on a string of sex crimes relating to children and sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison. However, it’s been alleged that police may have had information about Watkins as early as 2008 but failed to act on the leads.
The three unnamed members of the South Wales Police – a detective sergeant and two detective constables – will face a hearing after a report from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) deemed that the detective sergeant “did not take sufficient action to progress enquiries” and the two detective constables “did not undertake all reasonable and practicable lines of enquiry”.
“We probed a substantial number of reports and allegations relating to Ian Watkins made over a four year period to establish exactly who knew what and when, and how police officers responded,” said the IPCC’s commissioner in Wales, Jan Williams.
“We aim to issue our fuller findings, including our examination of the wider organisational response of South Wales Police, following the conclusion of the misconduct proceedings currently being arranged by the force.”
These new investigations were triggered by an internal review by South Wales Police.
Watkins attempted to appeal his prison sentence but judges threw out his appeal, stating his crimes, which include the attempted rape of a baby, severe enough to warrant the lengthy sentence.
There will also be an investigation into how South Yorkshire Police handled their end of the case.
