Saville: 'How could you not have known?'

BBC Director General Tony Hall has described the revelations over pervert DJ Jimmy Savile's horrific attacks on innocent and impressionable victims as "a dark chapter in the history of the organisation".

And he said just as powerful as the accusation “You knew”, was the legitimate question: “How could you not have known?”

In a statement he said: "I am proud to lead the BBC and I always want to think and believe the best of the organisation. But today – let us be in no doubt – we are hearing the worst.
"And it is a very sobering day."

In a long-awaited report, Dame Janet Smith said BBC bosses missed five opportunities to bring to book 'untouchable King Jimmy' Savile as he molested 72 victims over a period of five decades.

If staff did dare try and report him they were told 'keep your mouth shut, he is a VIP', the review found.

Despite the revelations, Dame Janet said the corporation’s failure to stop Savile and Hall was not the fault of senior managers.

Mr Hall said: "I note that the reports did not conclude that, in a formal sense, the BBC knew about Savile. But I take no satisfaction from that.

"It seems to me that the BBC could have known. Just as powerful as the accusation “You knew”, is the legitimate question: “How could you not have known?”

"And much of this was down to the culture of the BBC at the time, which we must reflect on and act on. It was an organisation that was too hierarchical, too self-interested, too siloed to hear or act properly on the disturbing stories and rumours individuals had heard.

"So what happens now?

"This has been one of the most important inquiries in the history of this organisation. It has interviewed almost 500 people, taken nearly three years and cost £6.5m. It covers 1,000 pages and three volumes.

"And the nature of this inquiry has placed a very great responsibility on everyone to be open and frank, however painful for them personally, to help us understand and learn from what happened in the past.

"I would very much like to thank Dame Janet Smith and Dame Linda Dobbs for their detailed and authoritative work.

And the best way I can do that is by undertaking the period of careful reflection and self-examination that the review recommends. Let me be clear: I accept their conclusions and recommendations in full.

"And I believe it's equally important for me to say today that we have read, we have heard, we are listening and we understand.

"We have read and heard how Hall and Savile abused and were able to continue their abuse because so much information was not acted upon. Dame Janet says she was struck by the amount of adverse material in the public domain.

We understand how what happened had its roots in an organisation that was too hierarchical and too self-absorbed to be able to act properly on the disturbing stories individuals had heard. It would be a brave employee who would complain – even if they'd known how to.

"We realise there was a ‘macho culture’ – there were very few women managers back then – and critically we need to carry on the work we have been doing to get our child protection policies right.

"And we can understand from these reports that our ways of communicating within the BBC were inadequate. One part of the organisation didn't talk to another. No sense then of us being 'One BBC'.

“There was too much stress on protecting the reputation of the Corporation – as opposed to protecting staff and the people coming to enjoy our shows.

“And we should reflect with sorrow on the fact that although the BBC was as prone as any to the wilful blindness to sexism and sexual harassment that affected many organisations – it's even worse for us when our duty is to be better.

“In conclusion, I would like to say this to the survivors of Savile and Hall.
You have shown extraordinary courage in coming forward and telling us all what you went through. We are determined to honour your courage.
“We will learn the lessons from these terrible times.
“We will confront the issues head on.
“We will continue to address them in an open and honest way.
“And we will be there for you.
“So over time the BBC can be a stronger and better organisation.
“And we can help bring some closure to this dark chapter.
“That is the very least we owe to you.”