UK & World News
- 5 October 2012, 16:25
Savile: Street-Porter Heard Sex Abuse Claim
Janet Street-Porter says she was aware of rumours about Sir Jimmy Savile's alleged abuse of underage girls when she worked at the BBC during the late 1980s.
The broadcaster and journalist said there was a culture of inappropriate behaviour in the entertainment industry.
She claimed that, even if she had raised allegations about the Jim'll Fix It presenter with the BBC, nothing would have been done.
Speaking on BBC's Question Time, she said: "A lot of people in the BBC knew what was going on.
"I heard the rumours but I was working in an environment that was totally male.
"Do you really think that if I said to someone at the BBC higher up than me this was going on - they wouldn't have taken any notice of me whatsoever."
Ms Street-Porter, who started working in commercial television as a presenter in 1975, said she had been aware of "things going on in dressing rooms" across the industry.
"There was definitely a culture where there was inappropriate sexual behaviour, not necessarily with underage boys and girls, but there was a culture in light entertainment that made me feel uncomfortable," she added.
A growing number of people have come forward to allege that Sir Jimmy sexually assaulted them.
It follows a documentary in which five women claimed they had been abused by the late Top of the Pops host when they were schoolgirls in the late 1960s and 1970s - some while on BBC premises.
Police have not launched a formal investigation, although the Metropolitan Police is assessing the claims.
"Our priority will be to ensure a proportionate and consistent policing response, putting the victims at the heart of our inquiries," the force said in a statement.
"It is too early to say how many individual allegations there are, and we will be making contact with all those concerned in due course."
The BBC said it will assist police with any investigation.
A spokesman said: "We have asked the BBC investigations unit to make direct contact with all the police forces in receipt of allegations and offer to help them investigate these matters and provide full support to any lines of inquiry they wish to pursue."
what do you think?
Robbie369P .
"Do you really think that if I said to someone at the BBC higher up than me this was going on - they wouldn't have taken any notice of me whatsoever." How about going to the Police? This saga is showing people for the cowards that they are. How many people could have been spared.
Jennie Morris
Here here Robert!
Gordon Wright
Rumours are just that - Rumours. There is little point in going to the police, or anyone else for that matter if you have no evidence.
Dave Harrison
Colin. Be fair. She also qualified her comments by explaining why she thought it would be pointless saying anything. JSP also suggested that there were a lot more celebrities than JS dabbling so lets get after them instead of wasting time and money on a dead man who is beyond sanction
angie_sorensen
If jimmy saville WAS guilty of this behavour,then are all the people who knew not just as guilty,I could never stand by if I thought abuse was going on,and id feel ashamed to admit id heard the rumours and said nothing,id have reported right away but it sounds like janet was more concerned about furthering her career at the bbc to care!
krafty81
If the rumours turn out to be true then those that knew about it are just as bad as js if they did not report it or at least make the police awear. Maybe if it turns out to be true we should all as a country stop paying the TV licence as the BBC obviously don't think rape is a bad thing as they all,just seemed to turn a blind eye to js's carrying ons
Mary Steel
They should ask the nurses from Stoke Mandeville to come forward, when my husband was a patient there in 1980 the nurses dreaded when he would come and do his "voluntary" work there, he was always groping them and making all kinds of lewd inappropriate suggestions, but as he also raised a lot of money for the spinal unit there I think they chose to sweep it under the carpet, disgusting vile dirty man.
Rhys Sage
I have long suspected that the entertainment industry has some extremely loose morals.
Gillian Silcox
I think those that knew and said nothing are just as culpable. If claims are true & people are found to have known and kept silent they should be prosecuted.
speller007
this is a very sad situation. but a bit too late. the horse has already bolted. the victims, if indeed there are any aren't able to get closure as the accused is dead. yes, the police should investigate. but ultimately it will most likely result in the bbc paying compensation to the victims as a gesture of an apology.
George Clement
By not saying anything Sreet-Porter is as bad as the others who kept their traps shut, to suggest nothing would be done if she said anything shows she must have thought all men working at the BBC were as bad as Savile.
Colin Tiso
3:18pm on 5/10/2012
she was aware of rumours and said nothing