UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian
Dan Sabbagh
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 October 2012
The BBC is preparing to launch its own inquiry into the Jimmy Savile affair, after criticism of its slow response to the unfolding scandal and claims that the Jim’ll Fix It star was apparently able to get away with sexual abuse over several decades.
The inquiry is expected to begin before the end of the year, once the police have given the green light to the BBC that any separate activity by the broadcaster will not compromise the developing Metropolitan police investigation, which, it emerged on Tuesday, is pursuing 120 lines of inquiry involving rape and sexual abuse.
An announcement about the planned review is likely to be made by the BBC today, but with few other details. A independent person will lead the review – although the BBC is less likely to be ready to unveil a name today. Its exact terms of reference are likely to be announced in a few days.
It has taken a week and half since the first cluster of allegations about Savile emerged for the BBC to confirm something approaching an inquiry into its former star’s conduct, its context and what lessons the corporation can learn from the torrent of revelations about him and claims about the wider culture at the corporation of the time.
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