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Max Clifford arrested on suspicion of sexual offences Max Clifford arrested on suspicion of sexual offences
(about 9 hours later)
Max Clifford, one of the best-known publicists in Britain, has protested his innocence after his arrest by officers investigating sexual abuse claims against Jimmy Savile and others. Publicist Max Clifford has protested his innocence after being arrested by detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal, describing the allegations as "damaging and totally untrue".
Officers working on Operation Yewtree arrested Clifford at his Surrey home at 7.40am "on suspicion of sexual offences". The 69-year-old was taken to a central London police station for questioning and later bailed. He was held at his Surrey home at 7.40am on Thursday on suspicion of sexual offences and taken to Belgravia police station in central London for questioning.
He is the fifth person to be arrested and the sixth to be questioned since the inquiry began following revelations that Savile had abused underage girls both at the BBC and at several hospitals, including Stoke Mandeville and Leeds General Infirmary. He was held until 9.20pm, when he was released on bail until a date later this month.
After his release on Thursday night, Clifford made a statement outside the police station. "These allegations are damaging and completely untrue," he said. "On a personal level, they are very distressing for myself, my wife, my family and loved ones. The 69-year-old was the sixth person quizzed by police from the Yewtree Operation into allegations of sexual abuse surrounding Savile and others.
"Anyone who really knew me all those years ago and those who have known me since will have no doubt that I would never act in the way that I have today been accused." His arrest on suspicion of sexual offences that allegedly date back as far as 40 years is not linked to former BBC presenter Savile.
After the media consultant was released on police bail last night, he strongly denied the claims.
"Anyone who really knew me all those years ago, and those who have known me since, will have no doubt I would never act in the way I have today been accused.
"On a personal level, the allegations are very distressing for myself, my wife, my family and loved ones."
Clifford is the fifth person to be arrested and the sixth to be questioned since the inquiry began following revelations that Savile had abused underage girls both at the BBC and at several hospitals, including Stoke Mandeville and Leeds General Infirmary.
Answering questions from reporters, Clifford said he thought he was facing two allegations dating back to 1977.Answering questions from reporters, Clifford said he thought he was facing two allegations dating back to 1977.
The Savile allegations have caused major embarrassment for the BBC, which has been accused of failing to report on investigations into the DJ's alleged crimes, and last month led to the resignation of the BBC's director general George Entwistle.The Savile allegations have caused major embarrassment for the BBC, which has been accused of failing to report on investigations into the DJ's alleged crimes, and last month led to the resignation of the BBC's director general George Entwistle.
The Pollard inquiry into BBC executives' handling of the axed BBC Newsnight investigation into Savile is to be published in the week of 17 December. Headed by former Sky News boss Nick Pollard, it is looking into whether there were management failings in the BBC's handling of the aborted Newsnight inquiry in late 2011 into Savile's alleged crimes.The Pollard inquiry into BBC executives' handling of the axed BBC Newsnight investigation into Savile is to be published in the week of 17 December. Headed by former Sky News boss Nick Pollard, it is looking into whether there were management failings in the BBC's handling of the aborted Newsnight inquiry in late 2011 into Savile's alleged crimes.
Last month Clifford publicly questioned where the police inquiry might lead, and said a lot of former stars had contacted him saying they were worried about being dragged into the investigation because they had appeared on Top of the Pops or Jim'll Fix It and had posed for photographs with girls and Savile.Last month Clifford publicly questioned where the police inquiry might lead, and said a lot of former stars had contacted him saying they were worried about being dragged into the investigation because they had appeared on Top of the Pops or Jim'll Fix It and had posed for photographs with girls and Savile.
"It is a situation which could easily turn into a witch-hunt. A lot of big stars are frightened," he told ITV's Daybreak. "Where is it going to end? I hope [the police] concentrate on finding people like Jimmy Savile who were manipulating girls.""It is a situation which could easily turn into a witch-hunt. A lot of big stars are frightened," he told ITV's Daybreak. "Where is it going to end? I hope [the police] concentrate on finding people like Jimmy Savile who were manipulating girls."
The singer Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and DJ Dave Lee Travis are three of those previously arrested and bailed in the Met inquiry. A former BBC producer, Wilfred De'Ath, was also arrested and bailed.The singer Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and DJ Dave Lee Travis are three of those previously arrested and bailed in the Met inquiry. A former BBC producer, Wilfred De'Ath, was also arrested and bailed.
They too were classified as falling under the "others" strand of the investigation. Another man aged in his 80s was interviewed under caution and released on 29 November.They too were classified as falling under the "others" strand of the investigation. Another man aged in his 80s was interviewed under caution and released on 29 November.
There are three strands to Operation Yewtree: "Savile", "Savile and others", and "others".There are three strands to Operation Yewtree: "Savile", "Savile and others", and "others".
The "Savile and others" strand relates to alleged offences in which the former Jim'll Fix It host was suspected of being involved; the "others" relates to allegations being investigated by Operation Yewtree that do not involve Savile.The "Savile and others" strand relates to alleged offences in which the former Jim'll Fix It host was suspected of being involved; the "others" relates to allegations being investigated by Operation Yewtree that do not involve Savile.
Clifford, who built his PR business Max Clifford Associates out of celebrity kiss-and-tell deals with tabloid newspapers, has represented some of the country's best-known stars, including Simon Cowell, cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and Jade Goody.Clifford, who built his PR business Max Clifford Associates out of celebrity kiss-and-tell deals with tabloid newspapers, has represented some of the country's best-known stars, including Simon Cowell, cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and Jade Goody.