Report into Savile sex abuse at BBC is delayed

PUBLICATION of Dame Janet Smith’s report into how Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall carried out campaigns of abuse over decades at the BBC has been postponed at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

The report, which was compiled after the investigation interviewed 375 witnesses in connection with Savile and more than 100 about Hall, was due to be published in the second half of this month.

A statement released yesterday by the review team said the report was “now finished”.

It went on: “However, the Metropolitan Police has told the review that it is concerned that publication of the report now could prejudice its ongoing investigations into sexual abuse.

“As a result, Dame Janet has taken the decision that publication of the report (and its delivery to the BBC) should be delayed. The BBC is aware of, and accepts, this decision.

“The decision to delay publication has been made reluctantly. Dame Janet recognises that a further delay will be of particular disappointment to victims of Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall whose accounts are in the report and other witnesses before the review, to all of whom she is very grateful.

“However, it is important that the police’s investigations should not be prejudiced.”

It added: “Publication will take place as soon as possible.”