A probe into alleged child sex abuse by late TV star Jimmy Savile has become a formal criminal investigation involving others who are still alive, London’s Metropolitan Police said Friday.
Scotland Yard said Operation Yewtree has now switched from being an assessment to a criminal inquiry after detectives found possible leads “involving living people that require formal investigation”.
It said it was looking at alleged abuse “on an unprecedented scale.”
The force, which has been handling a series of allegations about Savile, one of the top stars in British broadcasting from the 1960s to the 1980s, said in a statement they were now following up more than 400 leads.
The statement said two weeks of gathering information from these leads had identified more than 200 potential victims.
Commander Peter Spindler said: “The public’s response to this issue has been astounding. We are dealing with alleged abuse on an unprecedented scale.
“The profile of this operation has empowered a staggering number of victims to come forward to report the sexual exploitation which occurred during their childhood.
“I am pleased that victims feel confident enough to speak out about the abuse they suffered and would like to reassure the public that we take all these cases very seriously and they will be investigated with the utmost sensitivity.”
The news came as the BBC said it was set to show a special edition of current affairs programme “Panorama” on Monday about Savile’s alleged abuse.
The broadcaster has previously faced claims that it dropped a proposed “Newsnight” investigation into Savile late last year, but has denied this.
A BBC source said: “It’s our absolute intention to get this show out on Monday. It’s purely down to whether it is delivered in time.”
The BBC is holding an independent inquiry into the claims against Savile, led by a former high court judge and ex-Sky television executive.
Probes are also taking place into Savile’s role in institutions including Broadmoor and Stoke Mandeville hospitals.
Savile inquiry now a criminal investigation: police
