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| Entertainment industry fears being tarred by Savile, says Clifford lawyer | Entertainment industry fears being tarred by Savile, says Clifford lawyer |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The police inquiry into sex offences by Jimmy Savile and others has led to an "atmosphere of fear" in the entertainment industry, according to the solicitor for the publicist Max Clifford. | The police inquiry into sex offences by Jimmy Savile and others has led to an "atmosphere of fear" in the entertainment industry, according to the solicitor for the publicist Max Clifford. |
| Clifford is one of nine figures from the media and entertainment industries arrested on suspicion of sexual offences under the Metropolitan police's Operation Yewtree investigation since it was launched in the aftermath of the Savile scandal last October. Operation Yewtree has grown to 30 detectives collecting evidence against individuals for alleged offences predominantly from the 1970s and 1980s. | Clifford is one of nine figures from the media and entertainment industries arrested on suspicion of sexual offences under the Metropolitan police's Operation Yewtree investigation since it was launched in the aftermath of the Savile scandal last October. Operation Yewtree has grown to 30 detectives collecting evidence against individuals for alleged offences predominantly from the 1970s and 1980s. |
| But the growing number of arrests – none of which involve suspicions of indecently assaulting children – have led to fears that those held will be falsely linked to child abuse crimes similar to the allegations against Savile. | But the growing number of arrests – none of which involve suspicions of indecently assaulting children – have led to fears that those held will be falsely linked to child abuse crimes similar to the allegations against Savile. |
| Charlotte Harris, solicitor for Clifford at the London law firm Mishcon de Reya, said: "There is an atmosphere of fear and it is making people feel that they will be tarred with the Savile brush, and that's very difficult." | Charlotte Harris, solicitor for Clifford at the London law firm Mishcon de Reya, said: "There is an atmosphere of fear and it is making people feel that they will be tarred with the Savile brush, and that's very difficult." |
| So far, detectives have questioned 10 people – nine of whom have been arrested and bailed, the other interviewed under caution – including former pop star Gary Glitter, comedians Freddie Starr and Jim Davidson, DJ Dave Lee Travis, and former BBC producers Ted Beston and Wilfred De'ath. Each of those arrested has denied the allegations. | So far, detectives have questioned 10 people – nine of whom have been arrested and bailed, the other interviewed under caution – including former pop star Gary Glitter, comedians Freddie Starr and Jim Davidson, DJ Dave Lee Travis, and former BBC producers Ted Beston and Wilfred De'ath. Each of those arrested has denied the allegations. |
| Harris said there was a worry in the entertainment industry about how police were handling the arrests, which have been announced in Operation Yewtree press statements although the suspects have never officially been named by Scotland Yard. | Harris said there was a worry in the entertainment industry about how police were handling the arrests, which have been announced in Operation Yewtree press statements although the suspects have never officially been named by Scotland Yard. |
| "I don't think it's the media reporting of the arrests – it's the fact of somebody being arrested that's causing the damage," she said. "It's very important that people aren't arrested without proper foundation. Of course the police should take allegations seriously, but you need to find the proper balance." | "I don't think it's the media reporting of the arrests – it's the fact of somebody being arrested that's causing the damage," she said. "It's very important that people aren't arrested without proper foundation. Of course the police should take allegations seriously, but you need to find the proper balance." |
| Harris also questioned why police were conducting "hugely intrusive" dawn raids on Operation Yewtree suspects' homes, given that many of the allegations are believed to relate to three or more decades ago. | Harris also questioned why police were conducting "hugely intrusive" dawn raids on Operation Yewtree suspects' homes, given that many of the allegations are believed to relate to three or more decades ago. |
| Police have said 589 people came forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against Savile, mainly alleging sexual abuse. Detectives have recorded 31 allegations of rape against the former Jim'll Fix It frontman, and said there are 199 alleged crimes in 17 force areas in which Savile is a suspect. | Police have said 589 people came forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against Savile, mainly alleging sexual abuse. Detectives have recorded 31 allegations of rape against the former Jim'll Fix It frontman, and said there are 199 alleged crimes in 17 force areas in which Savile is a suspect. |
| Scotland Yard is expected to release a joint report with the children's charity NSPCC this month on what can be learned from the Savile inquiry, though it will not comment directly on the recent arrests. The Crown Prosecution Service is likely to announce in the next two months whether any of the nine arrested will face charges. | Scotland Yard is expected to release a joint report with the children's charity NSPCC this month on what can be learned from the Savile inquiry, though it will not comment directly on the recent arrests. The Crown Prosecution Service is likely to announce in the next two months whether any of the nine arrested will face charges. |
| Mark Williams-Thomas, the child protection expert whose ITV investigative programme on Savile blew open the abuse scandal, defended the Met's handing of Operation Yewtree. | Mark Williams-Thomas, the child protection expert whose ITV investigative programme on Savile blew open the abuse scandal, defended the Met's handing of Operation Yewtree. |
| He pointed out that police had specified which strand of the investigation each arrest fell under, either "Savile", "Savile and others", meaning crimes allegedly carried out with Savile, and "Others", which involves allegations not connected to the former Top of the Pops host. | He pointed out that police had specified which strand of the investigation each arrest fell under, either "Savile", "Savile and others", meaning crimes allegedly carried out with Savile, and "Others", which involves allegations not connected to the former Top of the Pops host. |
| "It's really important that in addition to the high-profile arrests that we are aware of up and down the country there are people being arrested who have no significant standing in life and those are a direct result of people having the courage to report them since the Savile exposure," he said. "We definitely have given some power back to individuals who have lived in fear of reporting this until now." | "It's really important that in addition to the high-profile arrests that we are aware of up and down the country there are people being arrested who have no significant standing in life and those are a direct result of people having the courage to report them since the Savile exposure," he said. "We definitely have given some power back to individuals who have lived in fear of reporting this until now." |
| He acknowledged concerns about the potential reputational damage to some of those arrested but said: "Concerns are being raised by some people – but is that a collective opinion of people up and down the country? I don't think it is." | He acknowledged concerns about the potential reputational damage to some of those arrested but said: "Concerns are being raised by some people – but is that a collective opinion of people up and down the country? I don't think it is." |
| The number of people reporting abuse to the NSPCC and police Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre has soared since the Savile scandal. | The number of people reporting abuse to the NSPCC and police Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre has soared since the Savile scandal. |
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