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British Health Authorities to Chronicle Abuse by Jimmy Savile at Medical Facilities Britain Chronicles Abuse by Jimmy Savile at Medical Facilities
(about 2 hours later)
LONDON — The British health authorities planned on Thursday to publish findings of inquiries into episodes of sexual abuse committed by the disgraced television presenter Jimmy Savile at state-funded medical facilities, the latest twist in a story of malfeasance that has shocked Britons and shaken the British Broadcasting Corporation, his onetime employer. LONDON — The British health authorities said on Thursday that inquiries into sexual abuse by the disgraced television host Jimmy Savile at state-funded medical facilities had revealed “truly awful” episodes involving patients aged from five to 75.
The investigation at National Health Service institutions followed police inquiries into claims of abuse at several locations, including Leeds general hospital and a high-security psychiatric unit visited by Mr. Savile under the guise of charitable work. The disclosures were the latest addition to a catalog of malfeasance that has shocked Britons and shaken the British Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Savile’s onetime employer.
The investigation at National Health Service institutions followed police investigations into allegations of abuse at several locations, including Leeds General Infirmary in his hometown and a high-security psychiatric unit visited by Mr. Savile under the guise of charitable work.
The entertainer gained access to the hospital in Leeds by working on its radio service and volunteering as a porter as part of his fund-raising efforts, the investigation found.
He had unrestricted access to the Leeds hospital’s departments, during a 50-year association. The inquiry concluded that the first case of abuse occurred in 1962 and the most recent in 2009, when he was 82. While some victims complained to the staff, either directly or through their parents, their allegations were not passed on to those in higher authority.
“For some, although the abuse took place decades ago, their experience endures as a painful and upsetting memory that still has an effect on them today,” said Sue Proctor, who headed the inquiry.
The cigar-chomping Mr. Savile, who died in 2011 at age 84, was widely seen for decades as a kind of national treasure for his zany fashion sense, quirky mannerisms and supposed philanthropy. Only after he died did long-rumored misbehavior come to light in hundreds of reports of abuse of women, girls and boys. The disclosure of his activities also provoked police investigations that led to trials of several aging entertainers accused of sexual offenses.The cigar-chomping Mr. Savile, who died in 2011 at age 84, was widely seen for decades as a kind of national treasure for his zany fashion sense, quirky mannerisms and supposed philanthropy. Only after he died did long-rumored misbehavior come to light in hundreds of reports of abuse of women, girls and boys. The disclosure of his activities also provoked police investigations that led to trials of several aging entertainers accused of sexual offenses.
Mr. Savile presented a music show called “Top of the Pops” and a program called “Jim’ll Fix It.” Both brought him into contact with young people. But throughout the unfolding scandal, there were persistent accusations that, over decades, he abused his victims in state-run facilities, including a school for troubled teenage girls and hospitals, preying on psychologically disturbed or incapacitated inmates. A joint statement by National Health Service executives said there had been “truly awful” incidents dating to 1960, when Mr. Savile began volunteering at the Leeds hospital in northeastern England. Of the 60 people who testified to investigators — 33 of them patients, but also including female hospital staff members — 19 were minors under the age of 16. Three people said they had been raped.
Police inquiries have focused on three strands of allegations — accusations relating to Mr. Savile alone, those implicating him and other suspects in abuse, and a third category of offenses involving other people. At the Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric clinic west of London, the inquiry found that a “clear, repeated failure of safeguarding standards” led to sexual relationships between staff and patients, and that Mr. Savile was “an opportunistic sexual predator.”
Research by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children claimed that he abused at least 500 victims, the youngest of them 2 years old. Mr. Savile was the host of a music show called “Top of the Pops” and a program called “Jim’ll Fix It.” Both brought him into contact with young people. But throughout the unfolding scandal, there were persistent accusations that, over decades, he abused his victims in state-run facilities, including a school for troubled teenage girls and hospitals, preying on psychologically disturbed or incapacitated inmates.
Police inquiries have focused on three strands of allegations — accusations relating to Mr. Savile alone, those implicating him and other people in abuse, and a third category of offenses involving other people.
Research by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children found that he abused at least 500 victims, the youngest of them 2 years old.
The BBC, which is funded by compulsory license fees paid by viewers, conducted its own inquiries into its relationship with Mr. Savile. One of them raised the question of why the broadcaster canceled a contentious report into accusations of sexual abuse against Mr. Savile in December, 2011, two months after he died.The BBC, which is funded by compulsory license fees paid by viewers, conducted its own inquiries into its relationship with Mr. Savile. One of them raised the question of why the broadcaster canceled a contentious report into accusations of sexual abuse against Mr. Savile in December, 2011, two months after he died.
At the time, the BBC’s director general was Mark Thompson, who joined The New York Times Company as president and chief executive in 2012.At the time, the BBC’s director general was Mark Thompson, who joined The New York Times Company as president and chief executive in 2012.
In December 2012, an inquiry by Nick Pollard, a veteran British broadcast executive, blamed lax leadership and “rigid management chains” that left the BBC “completely incapable” of dealing with the Savile affair.In December 2012, an inquiry by Nick Pollard, a veteran British broadcast executive, blamed lax leadership and “rigid management chains” that left the BBC “completely incapable” of dealing with the Savile affair.
But Mr. Pollard’s 200-page report did not challenge Mr. Thompson’s assertions that he had no role in canceling the BBC’s Savile report and was unaware of the sexual abuse accusations until he left the BBC in September 2012. Neither did the report fault Mr. Thompson for missing opportunities to learn the details of the allegations against Mr. Savile.But Mr. Pollard’s 200-page report did not challenge Mr. Thompson’s assertions that he had no role in canceling the BBC’s Savile report and was unaware of the sexual abuse accusations until he left the BBC in September 2012. Neither did the report fault Mr. Thompson for missing opportunities to learn the details of the allegations against Mr. Savile.