Jimmy Savile Rape Allegation Referred To Scotland Yard

Jimmy Savile Rape Allegation Referred To Scotland Yard
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The BBC has said it will make direct contact with police to provide full support over the "disturbing allegations" made about abuse involving Sir Jimmy Savile.

It comes as an historic rape allegation made against the entertainer was referred to Scotland Yard by officers in Surrey.

A spokesman for the BBC said: "A number of serious and disturbing allegations have been made over the past few days about the sexual abuse of teenage girls by Jimmy Savile.

"Some of these allegations relate to activity on BBC premises in the 1960s and 70s. We are horrified by allegations that anything of this sort could have happened at the BBC - or have been carried out by anyone working for the BBC.

"They are allegations of a serious criminal nature which the police have the proper powers to investigate.

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Two police forces investigated allegations against the entertainer but no action was taken

"So we have today asked the BBC investigations unit to make direct contact with all the police forces in receipt of allegations and offer to help them investigate these matters and provide full support to any lines of inquiry they wish to pursue."

The investigations unit is a division of the BBC responsible for security and safety matters within the corporation, the Press Association reported.

A spokeswoman for Surrey Police said: "A woman yesterday reported an historic allegation of rape. The alleged offence occurred in London, therefore the matter has been referred to the Metropolitan Police."

It was also revealed that Jersey and Surrey police both investigated accusations made against the entertainer about alleged abuse in two children's homes, but decided there was not enough evidence to proceed.

A spokeswoman for Jersey police said: "During the course of the States of Jersey Police's historic abuse investigation, a verbal allegation of indecent assault said to have occurred during the 1970s at the former children's home Haut de la Garenne was received.

"The allegation was investigated but there was insufficient evidence to proceed."

In 2007, Surrey Police received an allegation of indecent assault that was alleged to have taken place at a children's home in Staines during the 1970s.

The force said: "The allegation was investigated and an individual was interviewed under caution.

"The matter was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision who advised there was insufficient evidence to take any further action."

Newsnight editor Peter Rippon said the current affairs show dropped a story about the allegations against Savile because it "had not established any institutional failure" on behalf of the police or Crown Prosecution Service.

Writing on a BBC blog, Mr Rippon said it was "totally untrue" he had come under any pressure to drop the story from within the corporation.

He said: "I decided we should pursue the story because of the nature of the allegations and because the key witness told us the police had investigated the claims but the case had been dropped on the grounds he was too old. This made the public interest case from a Newsnight point of view potentially strong. If we could establish some sort of institutional failure we would have a much stronger story."

He added the CPS told Newsnight no action was taken against the star because of "lack of evidence" and "it would not be correct to say that his age and frailty was the reason".

Mr Rippon said: "I felt it was significant the guidance was included and we had not established any institutional failure and I judged it weakened the story from a Newsnight perspective. I took the decision not to publish."

Meanwhile, a woman has come forward alleging that Savile forced her and a friend to perform sex acts on him while she was on holiday in Jersey, aged 14.

Dee Coles told ITV News that after it happened she was told not to tell anyone.

"Myself and another girl I met on holiday were basically taken into his van by him on a couple of occasions and made to do sexual acts," Ms Cole said.

"How it made me feel at the time? Immense panic as soon as the door locked.

"Afterwards, it was shame. The biggest emotion you can ever feel is shame and I carry that now."

Ms Cole said she came forward some 40 years after the incident in the hope that other abused women are believed when they come forward.

"I'm doing this in the hope the women coming forward are believed," she said.

"I panic if I think those women or myself won't be believed and I panic to think it will happen over and over again in the world. Of course it will but I'd like people... adults to take responsibility."

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Lord Grade denied there was any cover-up over rumours surrounding Jimmy Savile

Lord Michael Grade has told Channel 4 News that he heard rumours about Savile's alleged conduct while he was controller of BBC 1.

Asked why he did not act, he said: "People would cast aspersions in a general conversation - no one said: 'I know someone who has been attacked by an artist' - you'd immediately take action.

"I never heard anything that gave me cause to think we should investigate or do anything about it.

"There were questions, but the entertainment industry is awash on a sea of rumours. I wouldn't like anyone to get the idea that in the Seventies the people in authority in broadcasting were in any way permissive, or turned a blind eye."

Lord Grade said he was "absolutely certain" that rumours of a BBC cover-up over Savile were "ludicrous".

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