Police Investigation Into DJ Scott Mills Concluded Without Charges
Former BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Scott Mills faced a police investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy under 16, but the case was ultimately closed due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his 40s was questioned under caution in July 2018 regarding incidents reported to have occurred between 1997 and 2000.
BBC Abruptly Removes Mills From Airwaves
The 53-year-old DJ was unexpectedly taken off air by the BBC last week before his dismissal over allegations related to his "personal conduct" was officially announced on Monday. Mills last hosted his popular breakfast programme on Tuesday, March 24, concluding with his customary sign-off: "See you tomorrow." The allegations relate to a period when Mills was working at BBC Radio 1, though it remains unclear whether the BBC was informed about the police investigation at that time.
The connection between his sudden termination and the police investigation has not been officially confirmed by either the BBC or law enforcement authorities.
Metropolitan Police Investigation Details
According to a police spokesperson, the investigation began in December 2016 following a referral from another police force. "The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy," the spokesperson stated. "These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000."
The Metropolitan Police does not typically identify individuals who are subject to investigation before any formal charges are brought. A comprehensive file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring criminal charges. Following this legal advice, the investigation was formally closed in May 2019.
BBC Management Responds to Staff and Public
News of Mills's dismissal led the noon bulletin on his former station, BBC Radio 2, and the broadcaster issued a news alert on Tuesday reporting the closed police investigation. In an email sent to BBC staff on Monday, Lorna Clarke, the BBC's director of music, wrote: "I wanted to personally let you know that Scott Mills has left the breakfast show, and the BBC."
Clarke acknowledged the sudden nature of the announcement, stating: "I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected, and therefore must come as a shock. Not least as so many of us have worked with Scott over a great many years, across a broad range of our programmes on R1, 5Live, R2 and TV."
The BBC has declined to comment beyond an earlier statement: "While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC." Mills himself has been contacted for comment regarding these developments.
Political Reaction and BBC Leadership Transition
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch commented on the situation during a visit to Hertfordshire, telling the Press Association: "This is yet another scandal that the BBC has to contend with. It is a large and complex organisation, and I think that this is one of the things that the new director-general is going to need to get to grips with."
The controversy emerges during a significant leadership transition at the BBC. Outgoing director-general Tim Davie will leave the corporation this week, to be replaced by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies on April 2. Former Google executive Matt Brittin is scheduled to become the permanent director-general on May 18, inheriting an organisation facing renewed scrutiny over its handling of personnel matters and allegations involving high-profile presenters.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that the teenage boy involved in the allegations was under 16 years old at the time of the reported incidents. Scott Mills was never charged with any criminal offence, and the investigation has been formally concluded without prosecution.
