Television presenter Jimmy Savile abused hundreds of children (Picture: PA Wire)

Senior police officers have been told to stop bombarding lawyers with case files on dead suspects.

This comes as historic child sex offences continue to pile up, despite the accused having died, the Independent reports.

Pfizer stops blocks use of its drugs for death sentencesCrown Prosecution Service director Alison Saunders had to remind officers that paedophiles like Jimmy Savile can never be posthumously put to justice.

In a statement, published on the CPS website, she said: ‘Since deceased persons cannot be prosecuted, the CPS will not make a charging decision in respect of a suspect who is deceased.


‘This applies in all cases where the suspect is deceased, including cases in which the police made a referral to the CPS for a charging decision prior to the suspect’s death. The CPS will also not make hypothetical charging decisions.’

Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said lawyers will not offer hypothetical advice on charging the dead (Picture: PA Wire)

But more victims are stepping forward to report past abuse.



Operation Hydrant, which focuses on cases of ‘non-recent’ child sex abuse, has seen a huge increase in the number of investigations.

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Historic child sex abuse cases Operation Hydrant, in liaison with the Goddard inquiry, has more than 2,228 cases on its database 302 of these involve people of public prominence 286 of these involve dead suspects

Last month, former head of Britain’s police chiefs, Sir Hugh Orde, called for less time and money to be spent on historic child abuse cases and more attention given to current ones.

He called it a ‘back to front’ way of using limited resources.

But prosecutors now anticipate the number of historic cases will continue to rise as the Goddard inquiry begins its public hearings.

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What is the Goddard inquiry? The Goddard inquiry is An Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) It was launched after investigations into the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal revealed widespread abuse The inquiry is about to look into the alleged cover-ups in Lambeth, the Catholic church, and the Church of England and Westminster

Saunders said police can continue an investigation if a suspect died during the inquiry in case there are still living suspects linked to them.

But she added lawyers will not offer ‘hypothetical advice’ on charging the dead.