+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

These extracts from a leaked report describe how Jimmy Savile got away with his horrific abuse

Jan 21, 2016, 20:57 IST

Sir Jimmy Savile prepares for The Bupa Great North Run on October 1, 2006 in Newcastle, England.Getty

A leaked draft of a report has revealed how serial sex offender and long-time BBC star Jimmy Savile got away with preying on children. Investigative news site Exaro News got hold of a report by Dame Janet Smith, who was hired by the BBC to investigate the Savile scandal. The parts of Smith's report which have been published are very interesting.

Advertisement

Basically, Smith reports that there was a culture at the BBC that meant reporting wrongdoing by senior staff was difficult and stars such as Savile were simply untouchable.

Here are the most interesting bits from the leaked draft of the report:

Smith said her general impression was that it was very difficult for junior staff at the BBC to challenge senior staff at the BBC, and some executives were "above the law."

Screenshot/exaronews

Advertisement

A production assistant told Smith that she was told by the BBC's Personnel Department that complaining about a sexual assault would be "not making the right decision."

screenshot/exaronews

Someone else told Smith that the BBC valued its Talent (senior stars) more than actual values. Apparently they were "prepared to overlook certain things" in order not to lose their Talent.

screenshot/exaronews

This culture was so ingrained that junior staff thought their career would be damaged if they made a complaint.

Advertisement

screenshot/exaronews

All of these things lead Smith to get the impression that the BBC's stars were untouchable.

screenshot/exaronews

Bizarrely, Smith concludes that people chose to remain at the BBC because it was a "wonderful place to work." Not because they valued their job more than basic ethics.

screenshot/exaronews

Following Exaro's publishing of the leaked draft Lord Hall, the director general of the BBC, has described the Jimmy Savile affair as a "dark chapter in the history of the BBC."

Advertisement

He told the BBC News: "The responsible thing must to be act on the final report which we have not received."

Smith's team told the BBC they were "disappointed" Exaro had released the draft and said the document was out of date and major changes had been made to its content.

NOW WATCH: Fashion designer Nicole Miller reveals what Donald Trump is really like

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article