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Jimmy Saville scandal: Report reveals extent of abuse

How he managed to get away with this in his lifetime is unbelievable.
I'm sure this is the tip of the iceberg in respect of the abuse he actually carried out.
The BBC still have questions to answer.
Children as young as eight were abused by Jimmy Savile, a report detailing 50 years of allegations has revealed.

The Met Police and NSPCC outlined offences at 13 hospitals, including Great Ormond Street in London and Wheatfields Hospice in Leeds.

Some 214 crimes were recorded across 28 police force areas, including 34 of rape or penetration, the report said.

The CPS apologised for its "shortcomings" in the Savile case, describing it as "a watershed moment".

Police said the victims' accounts painted a "compelling picture of widespread sexual abuse by a predatory sex offender," and Cdr Peter Spindler, who is leading the abuse probe, said Savile had "groomed the nation".

Downing Street said all the organisations concerned needed to properly investigate the latest "appalling" allegations.

"The prime minister's view of this is that it is absolutely right that every institution involved gets to the bottom of what has gone on," David Cameron's official spokesman said.

Historical abuse
Revelations that Savile had sexually abused children prompted hundreds of other victims to come forward, including those who said they were attacked on BBC premises.

In response to the report, the BBC said it was "appalled" some of offences were committed on its premises, restating a "sincere apology to the victims of these crimes".

The former BBC presenter and Radio 1 DJ died aged 84 in October 2011, a year before the allegations emerged in an ITV documentary.

Friday's report, Giving Victims a Voice, set out what Scotland Yard and the NSPCC have discovered about Savile since they launched the inquiry - Operation Yewtree - three months ago.

The 30-page document expanded on allegations that Savile was a prolific sex offender whose abuse took place at a number of institutions identified by victims.

Its findings included:

Savile offended at 13 hospitals, including Great Ormond Street, and one offence was recorded at Wheatfields Hospice in 1977
His youngest victim was an eight-year-old boy, and the oldest was 47
The earliest allegation is from 1955 in Manchester and the last from 2009
Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006, including at the last Top of the Pops recording
Peak offending took place between 1966 and 1976
Some 73% of victims were under 18. Most were aged 13 to 16
There is "no clear evidence" he operated in paedophile ring, although "whether he was part of an informal network" is still being investigated
The report also revealed 16 offences were committed at Leeds General Infirmary between 1965-1995 and 22 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital between 1965-88.

And one offence was committed at Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital, St James Leeds Hospital, High Royds Psychiatric Hospital, Dewsbury Hospital, Wycombe General Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1971, Ashworth Hospital, Exeter Hospital, Royal Portsmouth Hospital, St Catherine's Hospital in Birkenhead, and Saxondale Mental Health.

The Crown Prosecution Service also published a review of a decision in 2009 not to charge Savile with sexual offences in relation to four complaints made to police in Surrey and Sussex.

It found there was "nothing to suggest" the decisions were "consciously influenced by any improper motive on the part of either the police or prosecutors".

Continue reading the main story
Jimmy Savile inquiries

Operation Yewtree Scotland Yard criminal investigation into sexual abuse claims against Savile and others linked to the presenter
BBC investigation led by former Sky News head Nick Pollard into management failures over the dropping of Newsnight report about Savile
BBC investigation led by former Appeal Court judge Dame Janet Smith into corporation's culture and practices during Savile's career and current child protection and whistle-blowing policies
BBC investigation led by Dinah Rose QC into handling of past sexual harassment claims
Department of Health investigation into its own conduct in appointing Savile to lead a "taskforce" overseeing management of high security psychiatric hospital Broadmoor in 1988
Director of Public Prosecutions review into decisions by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute Savile in 2009
However, it said further action might have been possible had "police and prosecutors taken a different approach", adding the CPS prosecutor "did not probe... or seek to build a prosecution".

If those coming forward had "been told that she was not the only woman to have complained, they would probably have been prepared to give evidence".

Director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer apologised on behalf of the CPS. He said the report represented a "watershed moment" and pledged to enhance information sharing and provide prosecutors with additional training for the future.

The Department of Health said the Savile report showed the need to "learn lessons from his crimes" and the findings would feed into its own investigation.

Great Ormond Street Hospital called the report "extremely distressing".

It added the allegation relating to the hospital was "not reported at the time and therefore neither the police nor GOSH hold any records relating to the matter".

Wheatfields Hospice said it was "appalled and dismayed" to hear the allegations and its "thoughts are with the individual involved and their family at this difficult time, and we will of course fully support the police in their investigation."

Speaking on behalf of Broadmoor, West London Mental Health NHS Trust called the report "deeply distressing," saying it was reviewing "thousands of files and records" to help with the police investigation.

'Cathartic process'
Kim Harrison, a lawyer representing about 50 victims, said the report was one of the first steps on the way to victims getting "some kind of justice".

In a statement, the Met described Savile as "a prolific, predatory sex offender," adding the scale of his abuse was believed to be "unprecedented in the UK".


Deborah Cogger describes being abused by Savile at the age of 14
"It is believed Savile was able, through his celebrity status, to 'hide in plain sight' while abusing children and adults over six decades," said Cdr Peter Spindler.

"It paints a stark picture emphasising the tragic consequences of when vulnerability and power collide.

"Savile's offending footprint was vast, predatory and opportunistic. He cannot face justice today but we hope this report gives some comfort to his hundreds of victims, they have been listened to and taken seriously."

He also said lessons must be learned from the "shocking events".


Operation Yewtree has three strands - claims against Savile, claims against Savile and others, and claims against others.

The allegations against Savile prompted a series of investigations, including three at the BBC and another by the Department of Health into his role at Broadmoor.

A report by former Sky News chief Nick Pollard into the the dropping of a BBC Newsnight investigation into Savile's abuse said the decision was "flawed" and plunged the corporation into "chaos and confusion".

Savile was a BBC Radio 1 DJ as well as a presenter of Top Of The Pops and Jim'll Fix It on the BBC, and was knighted in 1990.
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Comments


  • "The prime minister's view of this is that it is absolutely right that every institution involved gets to the bottom of what has gone on," David Cameron's official spokesman said.

    Unfortunate choice of words by the PM.
  • "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.
  • annoys me that when this is carted out all over the TV news/Daybreak etc, they still have to show pictures of him especially that one where he is crouched down, arms outstretched with a group of people behind him.

    we know what he looks like ffs.
  • It beggers belief really makes you wonder what kind of hold or power he had to be able to keep this quiet.
  • Makes my stomach turn reading this.

    The key paragraph for me though is

    The Crown Prosecution Service also published a review of a decision in 2009 not to charge Savile with sexual offences in relation to four complaints made to police in Surrey and Sussex.

    Constantly people have said on here and elsewhere "Why didn't they come forward before" and then gone on to imply that the victims were either publicity seeking or gold diggers.

    Well here is your answer. THEY DID COME FORWARD BEFORE AND THEY WERE IGNORED.
  • cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
  • It annoys me that the Police have decided that these are not alleged incidents but crimes and that offences and not alleged offences were carried out and no one seems to be care. I'm aware that this will not be a poplar view however, until such cases are heard in a court of law they are alleged and not actual. If we cross the line where the police can decide the truth in such instances we are crossing a very important boundary and the Police should be very well aware of that.

    The cases cannot now come to court as the defendant will not be able to defend himslef which puts the justice system in an unprecedented position. Lessons may well be learned from this but one thing is clear justice cannot now be provided because we can no longer ascertain his guilt or innocence, therefore we must ensure that such cases are not ignored as they quiote obviously were and not decide in absentia.

    The politics of the situation are such that the government must be seen to be taking action but, they must ensure that their and everybody eles's actions are correct, in this age of 24 hour news it is more important than ever that we hold to our principles. Too often lines are being crossed blurred or just ignored, we do so at our peril.
  • PL54 said:

    cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
    Some did complain but they were ignored.

  • PL54 said:

    cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
    Some did complain but they were ignored.


    The Crown Prosecution Service also published a review of a decision in 2009 not to charge Savile with sexual offences in relation to four complaints made to police in Surrey and Sussex.

    That could well have been just one or two people - it is fair to assume the vast majority said nothing. Even if ignored would you then let it go ?
  • PL54 said:

    PL54 said:

    cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
    Some did complain but they were ignored.


    The Crown Prosecution Service also published a review of a decision in 2009 not to charge Savile with sexual offences in relation to four complaints made to police in Surrey and Sussex.

    That could well have been just one or two people - it is fair to assume the vast majority said nothing. Even if ignored would you then let it go ?

    Or four people even.

    And that was just in Surrey and Sussex. Remember this man lived in Yorkshire.


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  • PL54 said:

    PL54 said:

    cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
    Some did complain but they were ignored.


    The Crown Prosecution Service also published a review of a decision in 2009 not to charge Savile with sexual offences in relation to four complaints made to police in Surrey and Sussex.

    That could well have been just one or two people - it is fair to assume the vast majority said nothing. Even if ignored would you then let it go ?

    Or four people even.

    And that was just in Surrey and Sussex. Remember this man lived in Yorkshire.


    Exactly - why would people not complain at the time
  • PL54 said:

    PL54 said:

    cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
    Some did complain but they were ignored.


    The Crown Prosecution Service also published a review of a decision in 2009 not to charge Savile with sexual offences in relation to four complaints made to police in Surrey and Sussex.

    That could well have been just one or two people - it is fair to assume the vast majority said nothing. Even if ignored would you then let it go ?
    Perhaps I could speak out and perhaps you could speak out but not everyone can feel empowered to do so. Can you just imagine being one of his 10 year old victims and feeling strong or brave enough to tell someone what had happened. The man was an expert in carrying out these acts and no doubt left his victims in a state of fear regarding the outcome of any "telling tales" it's not as clear or simple as you are suggesting.

  • he was at it for decades-----and MANY people "looked the other way".

    When i was a kid many years ago it was always an urban legend that the real main nonces were in the Government---Judges----Obill ------people of power.

    some Urban Legends arnt myths at all.

    The thing is if the nonce scum bag was still alive---------ask yourself this---------would he still have been protected ? would it be still covered up ? would the BBC have come clean ? ---------not a f++kin chance.
  • edited January 2013
    PL54 said:

    PL54 said:

    PL54 said:

    cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
    Some did complain but they were ignored.


    The Crown Prosecution Service also published a review of a decision in 2009 not to charge Savile with sexual offences in relation to four complaints made to police in Surrey and Sussex.

    That could well have been just one or two people - it is fair to assume the vast majority said nothing. Even if ignored would you then let it go ?

    Or four people even.

    And that was just in Surrey and Sussex. Remember this man lived in Yorkshire.


    Exactly - why would people not complain at the time
    Shame

    Embarrassment

    Being children and not fully understanding what was happening

    Fear of being ignored or punished

    Fear of not being believed

    Threats from the abuser or reprisals

    Wishing to blank out the abuse and so not wanting to bring the matter up

    No confidence that the Police will act or the abuser be brought to justice

    Did complain at the time but it was hushed up.


  • PL54 said:

    PL54 said:

    PL54 said:

    cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
    Some did complain but they were ignored.


    The Crown Prosecution Service also published a review of a decision in 2009 not to charge Savile with sexual offences in relation to four complaints made to police in Surrey and Sussex.

    That could well have been just one or two people - it is fair to assume the vast majority said nothing. Even if ignored would you then let it go ?

    Or four people even.

    And that was just in Surrey and Sussex. Remember this man lived in Yorkshire.


    Exactly - why would people not complain at the time
    Shame

    Embarrassment

    Being children and not fully understanding what was happening

    Fear of being ignored or punished

    Fear of not being believed

    Threats from the abuser or reprisals

    Wishing to blank out the abuse and so not wanting to bring the matter up

    No confidence that the Police will act or the abuser be brought to justice

    Did complain at the time but it was hushed up.


    ...and now that he is dead
  • Well put Henry, so many reasons for people to not come forward at the time, really hate this attitude of some people who have an opinion of how they would act or how people should of acted after a terrible incident that they have not or hopefully will never happen to them.

    Reminds me of all the parents who went about saying how they would react during the Madeleine Mccann situation, really shows the worst parts of society.

  • This is a bit like the women concerned being blamed for what happened to them and becoming victimised all over again. Women did not come forward for all the reasons HI has given. It was about vulnerable voiceless women and girls versus powerful bigged up celebrity. The imbalance of power really should be obvious to everyone. But sadly, it would seem that a few men, and I assume that they are men, are content to allow the myths associated with a rape culture to drag on. It's about an abuse of power, blame the abuser not the silenced victims.
  • PL54 said:

    cafctom said:

    "Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006"

    How one bloke can get up to those sorts of things on a regular basis for 41 years at the same place and still get away with it baffles me.

    How none of the victims complained during those 41 years is ridiculous
    Ignoring the fact that some of them did complain as has been ponited out what is it your actually saying when you say that it was ridiculous that no one complained? That they are lieing, it didn't happen and they are only coming forward now for some monetary or other reason?

    Apologies if this is not the case but I'm struggling to see your point if it's not this.

  • Like I said before, dig him up and hang him!
  • My point is that if there are tens and tens, perhaps hundreds of victims over a 40 year period, is it not odd that there were just 4 complaints levied before he died?

    Yes, these people were largely children at the time but they would have grown up and are clearly happy to act now - why not at any point in the last 4 decades ? Half of the reasons that Lord Irving offers would still apply now.

    I just think it is all very peculiar.

    And as the poster said above, these are just accusations of course - not that I don't believe JS was a sick individual and I don't doubt that he did everything that is belatedly being levied at him.
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  • For me the biggest issue and concern is the BBC.
    We all have this belief that they are independent and provide a security blanket for our society.
    However it appears that they are more worried about stars and viewing figures than this.
    So sad for all those that suffered.

    And for those who say he is innocent till proven guilty, sadly he no longer can face trail. The level of evidence that has been dug up so far is way to damning to let him escape with any possibility of innocence.
  • PL54 said:

    My point is that if there are tens and tens, perhaps hundreds of victims over a 40 year period, is it not odd that there were just 4 complaints levied before he died?

    Yes, these people were largely children at the time but they would have grown up and are clearly happy to act now - why not at any point in the last 4 decades ? Half of the reasons that Lord Irving offers would still apply now.

    I just think it is all very peculiar.

    And as the poster said above, these are just accusations of course - not that I don't believe JS was a sick individual and I don't doubt that he did everything that is belatedly being levied at him.

    So you think "it is all very peculiar" but you also believe he did all of the things he's been accused of ?

    What is your point ? Why do you think they didn't come forward to report these terrible crimes that you agree did take place ?
  • I don't know - which is why I made the mistake of even mentioning it here !

    If I knew the reasons (like clearly everybody else here does) then it wouldn't be a question for me would it.
  • PL54 said:

    My point is that if there are tens and tens, perhaps hundreds of victims over a 40 year period, is it not odd that there were just 4 complaints levied before he died?...

    Only in your mind, because you aren't taking any notice of the very good reasons people have given why these crimes might have gone unreported.
  • Plus a lot of these cases were reported. Above is mentioned for separate reports, that were made to the police, investigated, passed to the CPS, who then decided that they likely wouldn't be able to secure a conviction (as opposed to the oft repeated statement here that they were ignored).

    I imagine there were dozen of cases reported by hospital staff to management and ignored, or by patients (either themselves or friends/family) to staff that were either ignored, suppressed by management ("I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding, and we wouldn't want to jeopardise all that charity money"), dismissed as fanciful or covered up in some way.
  • A couple of Lifers on here have explained their personal situations that are relevant to this case. After reading their posts, I would never dream of asking "why didn't the victims come forward!?"
  • PL54 said:

    I don't know - which is why I made the mistake of even mentioning it here !

    If I knew the reasons (like clearly everybody else here does) then it wouldn't be a question for me would it.

    Maybe you should try and form some sort of coherent argument before undermining the claims of those that have come forward, particuarly on such a sensitive subject.
  • Perhaps victims did come forward at the time, perhaps their concerns or reports were covered-up & there are no records existing of these complaints, maybe the reports/files were "mislaid". Perhaps those abused by the sick pervert wish to remain anonymous now to protect their own families, sadly now that he's dead there is not much recourse for justice unless they want to pursue the police/health service. I would imagine for many people this has opened a very distressing can of worms.
  • edited January 2013
    Well back to school for me.

    Luckily this is only a football forum. Imagine the vitreolic responses to such an absurd observation if it had been posted in a more learned environment.
  • Loco said:

    It annoys me that the Police have decided that these are not alleged incidents but crimes and that offences and not alleged offences were carried out and no one seems to be care. I'm aware that this will not be a poplar view however, until such cases are heard in a court of law they are alleged and not actual. If we cross the line where the police can decide the truth in such instances we are crossing a very important boundary and the Police should be very well aware of that.

    The cases cannot now come to court as the defendant will not be able to defend himself which puts the justice system in an unprecedented position. Lessons may well be learned from this but one thing is clear justice cannot now be provided because we can no longer ascertain his guilt or innocence, therefore we must ensure that such cases are not ignored as they quiote obviously were and not decide in absentia.

    The politics of the situation are such that the government must be seen to be taking action but, they must ensure that their and everybody eles's actions are correct, in this age of 24 hour news it is more important than ever that we hold to our principles. Too often lines are being crossed blurred or just ignored, we do so at our peril.

    This is an interesting point, and I agree with the core thoughts. It would be interesting to see what Legal Addick had to say about it. Having said that it is possible to reach a pardon posthumously for a conviction. Also in other countries a judge can make a finding categorically stating his judgement, which leaves no uncertainty as to the guilt of individuals even when the statute of limitations prevent conviction. One would assume as well that with capital offences, dna could prove certain cases and provide a verdict on suspects not convicted: Where DNA exists of suspects.

    The above is getting away from the point. The Saville case provides an overbearing amount of evidence. I'm not in a position to judge it. But the police were, I found it particularly poor practice where the police were constantly briefing the press and stating their belief on his abuse and guilt. It is their job to present the evidence, which appears to clearly show him as a pathological abuser. Their judgement is acceptable at the end of an investigation, not constantly during it. By their unprofessional briefings, it is quite easy to observe a possible biased position towards evidence: I'm not so naive as to believe that this is possible, but during an investigation it is surely wrong to allow it to be led by an absolutely entrenched opinion.

    Within this febrile atmosphere the police will get many things wrong. I'm not intelligent enough to create new and enlightened legislation. Is it needed? I've judged others before on why and when they've provided testimonies. Perhaps some empathy and compassion to all, especially from the football terraces, and just listening without pre-judging. This does not call for every possible high profile witness testimony to be subsequently believed unfettered.
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