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Police apologise to Savile victims over 'missed opportunities' to investigate

A formal apology has been issued to the victims of notorious sex offender Jimmy Savile as police admitted they missed a number of chances to investigate him while still alive.

North Yorkshire Police said an investigation into Savile and one of his high-profile friends, former Mayor of Scarborough Peter Jaconelli, had found there would even have been enough evidence to consider prosecuting the pair.

A total of 35 people had come forward to lodge allegations against the two men, with offences ranging from sexual activity with a child to rape.

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Savile victims were 'routinely ignored' by police and others

Lawyers representing 169 of Jimmy Savile's alleged victims have said complaints against the late TV presenter were "routinely ignored" amid his "systematic reign of abuse".

They welcomed an apology from North Yorkshire Police over the force's handling of complaints against the late TV presenter - but urged the government to learn from the past.

The victims will take some comfort from the apology.

Savile's victims were routinely ignored when they reported the abuse and countless opportunities to investigate him were missed, not just by police but also in other organisations he was involved with.

Hopefully, we are learning the lessons of the past and no one will ever get away with the systematic reign of abuse Savile did.

– Jessica Standley, Slater & Gordon

Police blame 'organisational failure' in Savile handling

'Organisational failure' - not misconduct - was to blame for failures in officers' handling of allegations against Jimmy Savile, police chiefs have claimed.

It comes after an investigation into North Yorkshire Police's handling of claims by the force's professional standards department found relevant information was not passed on to HM Inspectorate of Constabularies or the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission).

'Organisational failure' is blamed for failures in officers' handling of allegations against Jimmy Savile Credit: PA

Asst Ch Cons Paul Kennedy said the department was now continuing to investigate further issues surrounding investigations into Savile and his friend, then-Scarborough mayor Peter Jaconelli, during the 80s.

[The investigation] concluded that there was no evidence of misconduct but there was evidence of organisational failure, with a number of lessons to be learned which have now been rectified for the future.

Whilst there were failings to report some relevant information to the HMIC and IPCC, there is no evidence to suggest North Yorkshire Police failed in its responsibility to support Operation Yewtree, the national investigation concerning Savile.

– ACC Paul Kennedy, North Yorkshire Police

The IPCC has already announced that one serving detective sergeant has been served with a misconduct notice and is under investigation.

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Police chiefs' 'great regret' as Savile victims get no justice

Police chiefs in North Yorkshire have expressed their "great regret" that they will not be able to get justice for the victims of Jimmy Savile and his friend after officers missed opportunities to pursue them while alive.

It comes as the region's police force issued an apology to those attacked and abused by Savile and then-Mayor of Scarborough Peter Jaconelli for failing to prosecute the pair in the past.

An investigation found there would have been Credit: PA

Asst Ch Cons Paul Kennedy said an investigation had found there would have been "sufficient evidence" to consider charging the two men.

The available information indicates that, historically, the police missed opportunities to look into allegations against these men whilst they were still alive.

North Yorkshire Police apologises to the victims who made the brave decision to come forward during the past 18 months.

It is important that the victims have been able to make their allegations heard, and that their cases have been comprehensively examined by the police, regardless of the passage of time.

It is a matter of great regret that, from the outset of the investigation, there was no prospect of true justice being achieved as the suspects are deceased.

However, I hope the victims have gained a measure of closure from knowing that matters have now been investigated as fully as possible.

– ACC Paul Kennedy, North Yorkshire Police

Police apologise for 'missed opportunities' to stop Savile

A formal apology has been issued to the victims of notorious sex offender Jimmy Savile as police admitted they missed a number of chances to investigate him while still alive.

North Yorkshire Police said an investigation into Savile and one of his high-profile friends, former Mayor of Scarborough Peter Jaconelli, had found there would even have been enough evidence to consider prosecuting the pair.

Police admitted they missed a number of chances to investigate Jimmy Savile while still alive. Credit: PA

A total of 35 people had come forward to lodge allegations against the two men, with five reporting offences by Savile between 1979 and 1988, ranging from sexual assault to rape.

A force spokesman said 32 reports were against Jaconelli, dating between 1958 and 1998 and ranging from inciting a child to engage in sexual activity to rape.

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