All Wales Basic Safeguarding Practice Reviews Awareness Training Version 2 Practice case review 12: Jimmy Savile Sir Jimmy Savile who died in 2011 at 84 years-old was a well-known radio and television personality who came to public attention as an eccentric radio DJ in the 1960’s. At the time of his death he was respected for his charitable work having been knighted in 1990. He was closely associated with Stoke Mandeville and St James Hospitals. In the year following his death allegations were These reports looked at the various factors that being made about his sexual conduct, as these contributed to the decisions to take no action. gained publicity more individuals came forward to One report concluded that there had been an add their own experiences to a growing list. A ‘over-reliance on personal friendships between pattern of behaviour began to emerge and the Savile and some officers’. Police launched formal criminal investigation into The Health Minister Jeremy Hunt launched an allegations of historical sexual abuse. investigation into Savile’s activities within the NHS, Operation Yewtree commenced in October 2012 barrister Kate Lampard was appointed as the head and the Metropolitan Police Service concluded of this investigation which by November 2013 had that up to 450 people had alleged abuse by Savile. included thirty two NHS hospitals. A report into the findings of this criminal The findings of this investigation, published in investigation published jointly by the Police and June 2014 focussed on the following areas: The NSPCC called ‘Giving Victims a Voice’ found that abuse by Savile spanned a 50 year period and • security and access arrangements, including involved children as young as eight years-old. The celebrity and VIP access; 214 alleged assaults took place in at least 13 • the role and management of volunteers; hospitals as well as British Broadcasting • safeguarding; Corporation premises. One of the conclusions of • raising complaints and concerns (by staff and the report stated “... Savile was hiding in plain patients); sight and using his celebrity status and fundraising activity to gain uncontrolled access to vulnerable • fundraising and charity governance; and people across six decades. For a variety of reasons • observance of due process and good the vast majority of his victims felt they could not governance. speak out and it is apparent that the small number These could be seen as failings driven by the who did had their accounts dismissed by those in adoption of a separate set of rules for VIPs / authority including parents and carers.” Celebrities. Savile’s public profile was such that It became apparent that a number of allegations normal hospital rules were not applied to his had been made to the Police, the first in 1964; activities and staff and victims found it difficult to none of these had led to a prosecution, most challenge his behaviour. being rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service for lack of evidence. Further Police investigations led to reports being published by Surrey and West and North Yorkshire Police into allegations of further crimes in their respective areas. All Wales Basic Safeguarding Practice Reviews Awareness Training Version 2 As a result of concerns around Savile’s activities Sources - Giving Victims a Voice – NSPCC and within the BBC a review of the BBC’s Culture and Metropolitan Police Practices during Savile’s time at the BBC was Themes and lessons learnt from NHS conducted by Dame Janet Smith. The findings investigations into matters relating to Jimmy were published in February 2016 and found that: Savile Independent report for the Secretary of • At least 72 people were sexually abused by State for Health Savile in connection with his work at the BBC, Kate Lampard and Ed Marsden February 2015 including eight victims who were raped. There was also one attempted rape. The youngest rape Dame Janet Smith Review for the BBC victim was 10 years-old. February 2016 • The offending took place from 1959 to 2006, mostly in the 1970s. • The largest number of victims was in connection with Savile’s work on the BBC’s Top of the Pops programme. • Some members of BBC staff were aware of Savile’s inappropriate sexual conduct. • Those who were aware of specific complaints about Savile should have reported them to line managers. None did so. • A total of 117 witnesses said they had heard rumours about Savile. • There is no evidence any senior member of staff was aware of Savile’s conduct. • There is no evidence the BBC as a corporate body was aware of Savile’s conduct. • Savile was generally seen as a sleazy, unpleasant, self-important and self-obsessed loner. • Cultural factors at the BBC stopped staff reporting concerns to managers, especially where those concerns related to presenters or ‘talent’. • Talent are given privileges, treated with kid gloves and rarely challenged. Most people in the BBC were deferential towards the talent, who appeared untouchable. • There is a culture of not making complaints about the behaviour of talent. • There is also a macho culture, which militates against complaints being passed on to senior staff. • The BBC seemed more concerned about its reputation than the need to protect young girls..