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Jimmy Savile scandal: DPP to review abuse claims Jimmy Savile scandal: DPP to review abuse claims
(about 2 hours later)
The director of public prosecutions is to review decisions by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute Jimmy Savile in 2009.The director of public prosecutions is to review decisions by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute Jimmy Savile in 2009.
The CPS had looked at four sexual abuse claims against the late TV presenter and DJ, all dating back to the 70s.The CPS had looked at four sexual abuse claims against the late TV presenter and DJ, all dating back to the 70s.
Prime Minister David Cameron said "the allegations and what seems to have happened are completely appalling".Prime Minister David Cameron said "the allegations and what seems to have happened are completely appalling".
The NSPCC said it had received 161 calls about allegations against Savile and had passed details to police.The NSPCC said it had received 161 calls about allegations against Savile and had passed details to police.
The charity said it had also received 105 contacts, unrelated to the Savile case, from adults about abuse they suffered when children.The charity said it had also received 105 contacts, unrelated to the Savile case, from adults about abuse they suffered when children.
Other groups supporting sexual abuse victims also report increased calls to helplines in the wake of the scandal.
Savile, who died last year aged 84, is believed to have carried out a 40-year campaign of sexual abuse.Savile, who died last year aged 84, is believed to have carried out a 40-year campaign of sexual abuse.
In response to the first question at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said: "These allegations do leave many institutions, perhaps particularly the BBC, with serious questions to answer - I think, above all, how did he get away with this for so long?" The CPS has said charges were not brought over a file covering four possible cases of abuse against Savile - submitted by Surrey Police in 2009 - because the alleged victims' unwillingness to support police inquiries made a conviction unlikely.
The review of the 2009 case will be carried out by the DPP's principal legal adviser, Alison Levitt QC. Director of public prosecutions (DPP) Keir Starmer, whose principal legal adviser Alison Levitt QC will conduct a review into those cases, said in a statement there were "obvious problems" in proceeding in such cases.
In addition, Mr Cameron said: "The director of public prosecutions specifically is going to consider what more can be done to alert relevant authorities where there are concerns, but a prosecution is not taken forward." This was particularly true where there was no forensic evidence "and only very limited, or even in some instances no, witness evidence, particularly in relation to allegations which date back a number of years", he added.
He added: "Government will do everything it can do, other institutions must do what they can do to make sure we learn the lessons of this and it can never happen again." He said the decision not to prosecute was being re-examined "out of an abundance of caution".
The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into sexual abuse allegations against Savile. The force says it is following up hundreds of lines of inquiry, with more than 200 potential victims having been identified. And he said he would be discussing with the attorney general whether the CPS "should adopt a policy of referring cases to other relevant agencies, such as social services, where an allegation is made but cannot be proceeded with for evidential reasons".
A file covering four possible cases of abuse was submitted in 2009 by Surrey Police, but charges were not brought, the CPS says, because the alleged victims' unwillingness to support police inquiries made a conviction unlikely. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said the government would "do everything it can do" and other institutions "must do what they can do to make sure we learn the lessons of this - and it can never happen again".
In a statement, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) Keir Starmer said: "Whilst it is sometimes possible to prosecute cases where the victim does not support a prosecution, there are obvious problems in proceeding with a case where the victim does not support a police investigation, where there is no forensic evidence and only very limited, or even in some instances no, witness evidence, particularly in relation to allegations which date back a number of years." "These allegations do leave many institutions, perhaps particularly the BBC, with serious questions to answer - I think, above all, how did he get away with this for so long?" he said.
Whether the decision not to prosecute had been right was being re-examined "out of an abundance of caution", the statement said. The BBC has launched an inquiry, led by ex-Sky News head Nick Pollard, into whether there were any failings in the BBC's management over a scrapped Newsnight investigation into allegations against Savile.
Mr Starmer added: "This is not a straightforward issue but I have said to the attorney general that I would like to discuss with him whether the CPS should adopt a policy of referring cases to other relevant agencies, such as social services, where an allegation is made but cannot be proceeded with for evidential reasons." Another, led by former appeal court judge Dame Janet Smith, will look into the culture and practices of the BBC during Savile's time at the corporation.
"It's very important that the BBC makes clear these inquiries can go where the evidence leads, they'll have access to all the paperwork and they will be able to be truly independent and get to the truth on behalf of all the victims of Jimmy Savile," Mr Cameron told MPs.
In a third review launched by the BBC, an expert will look at sexual harassment claims and practices at the corporation.
Conservative MP Ann Main has tabled a Commons motion calling for the Leveson Inquiry into press phone hacking to be extended to scrutinise the BBC.
The motion argues "the BBC should not dictate the terms of an inquiry into itself".
Meanwhile, Mark Thompson - the BBC director general when the Newsnight programme was shelved in December - has said he played no part in that decision.
Mr Thompson, the incoming chief executive of the New York Times, told the paper: "I did not impede or stop the Newsnight investigation, nor have I done anything else that could be construed as untoward or unreasonable."
'Victims empowered''Victims empowered'
Charities say that coverage of the Savile scandal in recent weeks has given the victims of unrelated abuse, often going back many years, the courage to finally come forward. The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into sexual abuse allegations against Savile. The force says it is following up hundreds of lines of inquiry, with more than 200 potential victims having been identified.
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) says it has had 2,500 calls in three weeks, compared to between 200 and 300 in a normal week. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac), meanwhile, says it has had 2,500 calls in three weeks, compared with between 200 and 300 in a normal week.
Pannone, a firm of solicitors which specialises in helping victims of sex abuse, says it has seen a five-fold increase in approaches from people alleging abuse.Pannone, a firm of solicitors which specialises in helping victims of sex abuse, says it has seen a five-fold increase in approaches from people alleging abuse.
Alan Collins, from the firm, said: "The depth of coverage and the quality of the coverage empowers them because they're being exposed to people who have knowledge of how to progress a child abuse case.Alan Collins, from the firm, said: "The depth of coverage and the quality of the coverage empowers them because they're being exposed to people who have knowledge of how to progress a child abuse case.
"In my opinion that enables the victims to say, 'Yes, if I now step forward and take that step of reporting what happened to me, it will be taken seriously - I'm not going to be ridiculed, I'm not going to be dismissed.'""In my opinion that enables the victims to say, 'Yes, if I now step forward and take that step of reporting what happened to me, it will be taken seriously - I'm not going to be ridiculed, I'm not going to be dismissed.'"