CHESHIRE Police have acknowledged ‘mistakes were made’ after an alleged assault of a male by Jimmy Savile 50 years ago was not investigated.
In a damning report published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), allegations of the abuse of a male in the Cheshire area were ignored, allowing the disgraced TV presenter and DJ to abuse hundreds of young people over five decades.
Savile who died in 2011, aged 84, was reported to a police officer by a male in 1963, the day after he was allegedly assaulted, but no further action was taken, with Cheshire Police claiming it would now be ‘impossible’ to ascertain whether the complaint was made.
Det Supt John Armstrong, of Cheshire Police, said: “Cheshire Constabulary has been informed of an allegation of sexual assault by Jimmy Savile upon a male in 1963 within the Cheshire Constabulary boundaries as they were at that time. The victim has stated the assault was reported to a police officer the day after it occurred.
“Cheshire Constabulary has undertaken a search of its archived and retained records, but can find no record of the allegation. The allegation dates back 50 years and pre-dates computer held archives.
“Most Forces, like Cheshire Constabulary, have long held policies which govern what information is retained on file and for how long. Generally speaking, it is rare for police held documentary material to be retained beyond seven or 10 years. The one exception to this are files relating to undetected major crime investigations.
“In 1963, an incident reported at a police station or to an officer on patrol, would normally have been initially noted in the officer’s personal pocket notebook or in the station log. However, without the relevant documentation, it is impossible for Cheshire Constabulary to establish whether an allegation was lodged by an officer in 1963, or to determine what subsequent action may have been taken.”
Operation Yewtree which has been dealing with allegations against Savile, have seen 450 claims against him since it began operations in the wake of revelations last year about his sexual crimes.