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Jimmy Savile Inquiry Accuses BBC of Failing to Report Sexual Abuse Jimmy Savile Inquiry Accuses BBC of Failing to Report Sexual Abuse
(about 7 hours later)
LONDON — A culture of fear that persists to this day at the BBC and a permissive attitude to stars allowed Jimmy Savile, the disgraced British television personality, to sexually abuse 72 victims, including children, according to a long-awaited report published on Thursday. LONDON — A culture of fear that persists to this day at the BBC and a permissive attitude toward stars allowed Jimmy Savile, the disgraced British television personality, to sexually abuse 72 victims, including children, according to a long-awaited report published on Thursday.
The three-year independent investigation was set up by the BBC, an institution that is deeply bound up in Britain’s identity at home and abroad, to scrutinize its own behavior and culture during the years it employed Mr. Savile, from 1964 to 2007, when he hosted popular shows like “Top of the Pops” and “Jim’ll Fix It.” The three-year independent investigation was set up by the BBC, an institution deeply bound up in Britain’s identity at home and abroad, to scrutinize its own behavior and culture during the years it employed Mr. Savile, from 1964 to 2007, when he hosted popular shows like “Top of the Pops” and “Jim’ll Fix It.”
In the scathing report of more than 700 pages, Dame Janet Smith, a retired judge, concluded that Mr. Savile raped at least eight people during his tenure at the BBC, including a victim who was 8 years old. In the scathing report of more than 700 pages, Dame Janet Smith, a retired judge, concluded that Mr. Savile had raped at least eight people during his tenure at the BBC, including a victim who was 8 years old.
She said that BBC staff members were aware of complaints against Mr. Savile but that the accusations were not conveyed to senior management because of a “culture of not complaining.” She said BBC staff members were aware of complaints against Mr. Savile, but the accusations were not conveyed to senior management because of a “culture of not complaining.”
The reverence for top stars, referred to as “the talent,” created conditions that allowed abuse to flourish, and the report urged the BBC to “undergo a period of self-examination” and to make sure the biggest names had “no doubt as to the standards of behavior expected of them.”The reverence for top stars, referred to as “the talent,” created conditions that allowed abuse to flourish, and the report urged the BBC to “undergo a period of self-examination” and to make sure the biggest names had “no doubt as to the standards of behavior expected of them.”
Dame Janet said an “atmosphere of fear” still existed at the corporation, noting that some of those she had interviewed for the report had spoken only after receiving guarantees that their names would not be published because, she suspected, they feared some form of reprisal. Dame Janet said an “atmosphere of fear” still existed at the corporation, noting that some of those interviewed for the report spoke only after receiving guarantees that their names would not be published. She said she suspected that they feared some form of reprisal.
Citing a 2013 report, the BBC’s “Respect at Work Review,” Dame Janet concluded that people were unlikely to complain because jobs at the BBC were highly competitive, and because many employees were freelancers or on short-term contracts, adding to their sense of vulnerability. “In effect,” she wrote, “people told me that they could easily be dropped and there would be plenty of others ready to take their places.”Citing a 2013 report, the BBC’s “Respect at Work Review,” Dame Janet concluded that people were unlikely to complain because jobs at the BBC were highly competitive, and because many employees were freelancers or on short-term contracts, adding to their sense of vulnerability. “In effect,” she wrote, “people told me that they could easily be dropped and there would be plenty of others ready to take their places.”
The inquiry, which the BBC said had cost 6.5 million pounds, or about $9 million, said the broadcaster’s management structure and corporate culture had failed to hold Mr. Savile accountable for a catalog of sexual abuse that had taken place in “virtually every one of the BBC premises at which he worked,” including on the set of “Top of the Pops” and in the star’s dressing room.The inquiry, which the BBC said had cost 6.5 million pounds, or about $9 million, said the broadcaster’s management structure and corporate culture had failed to hold Mr. Savile accountable for a catalog of sexual abuse that had taken place in “virtually every one of the BBC premises at which he worked,” including on the set of “Top of the Pops” and in the star’s dressing room.
“First and most important there was, during the period covered by the Savile investigation, a culture within the BBC which made it difficult to complain or to say anything to management which might rock the boat,” Dame Janet said. Calling Mr. Savile a “prolific sex offender,” she said that the catalog of “monstrous” abuse she had documented during her investigation made for “sorry reading for the BBC.”
The cigar-chomping Mr. Savile, who died in 2011 at the age of 84, was one of the most celebrated and beloved personalities in Britain until accusations came to light in 2012 that he had preyed on scores of children and adults. The disclosure shocked Britain and the BBC.The cigar-chomping Mr. Savile, who died in 2011 at the age of 84, was one of the most celebrated and beloved personalities in Britain until accusations came to light in 2012 that he had preyed on scores of children and adults. The disclosure shocked Britain and the BBC.
“He used his celebrity status, his entree to the BBC and his connections with other stars as bait with which to draw young girls into his sphere,” the report said, calling Mr. Savile a pedophile who had sexually abused young children.“He used his celebrity status, his entree to the BBC and his connections with other stars as bait with which to draw young girls into his sphere,” the report said, calling Mr. Savile a pedophile who had sexually abused young children.
A separate report by Dame Janet also released on Thursday into the conduct of another former broadcaster, Stuart Hall, found that he had abused 21 female victims and that members of BBC management had known about his behavior. A separate report by Dame Janet also issued on Thursday on the conduct of another former broadcaster, Stuart Hall, found that he had abused 21 female victims and that members of BBC management had known about his behavior.
Mr. Hall, 86, was imprisoned in 2013 for indecently assaulting 13 girls from 1967 to 1985. The report told how he had cut the pubic hair of one of his victims, a girl of 14 or 15, and put the clippings in a picture frame on his shelf at BBC premises.Mr. Hall, 86, was imprisoned in 2013 for indecently assaulting 13 girls from 1967 to 1985. The report told how he had cut the pubic hair of one of his victims, a girl of 14 or 15, and put the clippings in a picture frame on his shelf at BBC premises.
Tony Hall, the director general of the BBC, who is no relation to Stuart Hall, apologized to the victims. “A serial rapist and a predatory sexual abuser both hid in plain sight for decades,” he said in a statement published by the broadcaster. “It was a dark chapter in the history of the organization, but a much darker one for all of you. The BBC failed you when it should have protected you. I am deeply sorry for the hurt caused to each and every one of you.”Tony Hall, the director general of the BBC, who is no relation to Stuart Hall, apologized to the victims. “A serial rapist and a predatory sexual abuser both hid in plain sight for decades,” he said in a statement published by the broadcaster. “It was a dark chapter in the history of the organization, but a much darker one for all of you. The BBC failed you when it should have protected you. I am deeply sorry for the hurt caused to each and every one of you.”
On Thursday, Tony Hall said that a D.J., Tony Blackburn, had “parted company” with the BBC after failing to cooperate fully with the Savile inquiry. According to the BBC, Mr. Blackburn said that the report had accused him of being among celebrities who had seduced a 15-year-old girl, which he has denied. Citing the director general, the BBC said that the inquiry had rejected Mr. Blackburn’s evidence. On Thursday, Tony Hall said that a D.J., Tony Blackburn, had “parted company” with the BBC after failing to cooperate fully with the Savile inquiry. According to the BBC, Mr. Blackburn said the report had accused him of being among celebrities who had seduced a 15-year-old girl, which he has denied. Citing the director general, the BBC said the inquiry had rejected Mr. Blackburn’s evidence.
Tony Hall was quoted as saying by the BBC that the investigation was “one of the most important inquiries in the BBC’s history and that has put an even greater responsibility on everyone who took part in that inquiry to cooperate fully and to be open.”