21/05/2014

Seven Officers Investigated Over Ian Watkins Case

Seven police officers have been served with gross misconduct notices as part of an inquiry into to handling of allegations made against Lostprophets' frontman, Ian Watkins.

The inquiry is looking at whether the celebrity status of Ian Watkins helped him avoid earlier prosecution for his crimes as a child sex abuser.

Notices have been served on three officers from South Yorkshire Police, two from Bedfordshire Police and two from South Wales Police.

Independent Police Complaints Commission Commissioner Jan Williams said: "We are continuing to gather and analyse information in all three investigations in order to establish what steps were taken by police in response to the allegations made against Ian Watkins, whether he could have been brought to justice sooner and whether his celebrity status had any impact on those investigations."

Ian Watkins was jailed last year for 29 years for serious child sex offences.

(MH/JP)

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