Scotland Yard says number of potential victims has risen to 200 and alleged abuse is 'on an unprecedented scale'

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Scotland Yard has launched a formal criminal investigation into the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal as the police confirmed it had identified more than 200 potential victims of the late BBC presenter.

The Metropolitan police said its criminal investigation would examine allegations of sexual abuse involving living people, and it was examining 400 lines of inquiry involving Savile.

Met police 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. Anyone with information or concerns should call NSPCC on 0808 800 5000."

The Met police launched Operation Yewtree, its assessment of allegations involving Savile, a fortnight ago and has been flooded with information from members of the public, including alleged victims and witnesses.

Scotland Yard said its inquiry into alleged child sexual exploitation by Savile had developed into a formal criminal investigation after it received allegations involving other living people.

The force said in a statement: "As we have said from the outset, our work was never going to take us into a police investigation into Jimmy Savile. What we have established in the last two weeks is that there are lines of inquiry involving living people that require formal investigation."

The Met has told the BBC that it can now begin its own internal reviews into alleged abuse by Savile.

Dame Fiona Reynolds, the chair of the BBC executive board, will oversee the corporation's internal investigation into alleged abuse by Savile during his four-decade on-screen career.

The BBC said it would ask Dame Janet Smith, the former high court judge, to open its reviews immediately.

The head of the NSPCC, Peter Watt, said it now appeared that Savile was "one of the most prolific sex offenders the NSPCC has ever come across".

The children's charity said it had received more than 136 "directly relating to allegations" against Savile that have been passed to police.

Watt added: "It's important we recognise the brave step victims have taken in coming forward and we urge any other victims to do the same. We are also finding more and more people coming forward and reporting unrelated abuse after hearing the victims in this case speak out. Many are only just doing so after years of keeping it to themselves."

The BBC is now able to open its own reviews into the abuse, days before director general George Entwistle is questioned

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