Abuse calls rise after Savile

Rape crisis centres and hotlines do not have "enough money to cope" with the number of victims, a woman's campaigner has told Daybreak.

Jill Saward, who was herself attacked as part of the Ealing Vicarage Rape Attack in 1986, admitted there was more support for victims if they took their case to court, as there were staff dedicated to looking after them.

The Jimmy Savile scandal has "reinforced" evidence a large amount of rape goes unreported, a victim's charity has warned.

Rape Crisis spokeswoman Katie Russell was speaking after a national hotline for rape and sexual assault victims recorded a "huge" rise in calls in the year after Savile's abuse was revealed.

Exposure: The Other Side Of Jimmy Savile detailed claims from women dating to the 1970s, including allegations that Savile abused girls in his Rolls-Royce and at BBC TV Centre.

A rape helpline has seen a 40% rise in calls since former children's presenter Jimmy Savile's lifetime of sexual abuse was exposed by a television documentary.

Rape Crisis England & Wales, a sexual violence charity for women and girls, said there had been a "huge" rise in the number of calls received in the 12 months since Exposure: The Other Side Of Jimmy Savile was shown on ITV.

The national hotline received 78,000 calls, compared with 55,000 during the previous 12 months, while local Rape Crisis centres have seen an increase in the use of their services.

Since Savile's death, the Metropolitan Police and NSPCC have amassed 214 criminal offences, including 34 rapes, against the dead television presenter who is believed to have abused women, girls and boys over a 54 year period.

Read more: NSPCC calls rise after Savile case