BBC faces scrutiny over handling of child abuse image scandal

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is facing scrutiny over its handling of the child abuse image scandal involving one of its highest-paid former presenters.

Huw Edwards, a renowned BBC newsreader known for covering high-profile events such as the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to three counts of making indecent images of children. According to law in the United Kingdom (UK), "making" such images can include actions like opening, accessing, downloading, storing content, or receiving unsolicited images via social media.

In a statement following Edwards's guilty plea, the BBC expressed shock at the court's revelations, stating, "There can be no place for such abhorrent behavior."

Court records indicate Edwards received 41 indecent images of children between December 2020 and August 2021. Seven images were classified as category A, the most serious, while 12 were category B and 22 were category C. Most category A images depicted children aged 13 to 15, with two clips showing a child aged around seven to nine, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Metropolitan Police began investigating Edwards after discovering his WhatsApp conversation with Alex Williams, a convicted pedophile, during an unrelated probe. Edwards is scheduled to appear in court in September.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and BBC Director General Tim Davie are expected to discuss the BBC's handling of the Edwards case via phone on Thursday. Key questions include why the BBC did not terminate Edwards's employment upon learning of his arrest and why he continued to receive his salary for five months until his resignation.

The BBC stated that at the time of Edwards's arrest, "no charges had been brought against Mr. Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health." They added, "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 was recently disclosed that Edwards earned between 475,000 pounds ($606,502) and 479,999 pounds ($612,885) in the 2023-24 financial year, making him the BBC's third-highest-paid presenter. The BBC acknowledged that it was aware of Edwards's arrest on suspicion of serious offenses in November 2023. He was formally charged in June.

Edwards resigned from the BBC in April, citing medical advice. He had not been on air since July 2023.

(With input from Xinhua)