Operation Yewtree, into historic allegations of
child sexual abuse by Savile and other individuals, some still living, covering four decades. The Met stated that it was pursuing over 400 lines of inquiry, based on the claims of
200 witnesses, via fourteen police forces across the UK. It described the alleged abuse as being
"on an unprecedented scale" and
the number of potential victims as "staggering".
[2][3] By 19 December, eight people had been questioned as part of the investigation. The Met stated that
the total number of alleged victims was 589, of whom 450 alleged abuse by Savile.[4][5]
The report of the investigations undertaken jointly by the police and the
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC),
Giving Victims a Voice, was published on 11 January 2013. It reported allegations covering a period of 50 years, including 214 alleged acts by Savile which, though uncorroborated, have been formally recorded as crimes, some involving children as young as eight. The report states "within the recorded crimes there are 126 indecent acts and 34
r*pe/penetration offences."
[6] Alleged offences took place at thirteen hospitals as well as on BBC premises, according to the report.
[6][7]
In October 2013, it was announced that inquiries had widened to other hospitals.
[8] On 26 June 2014, then-
Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt reported on the findings of the investigations led by
Kate Lampard. He said that Savile had sexually assaulted victims aged between 5 and 75 in NHS hospitals, and Hunt apologised to the victims.
[9] Further investigations, in hospitals and elsewhere, led to additional allegations of sexual abuse by Savile.