Councils told to investigate claims over Jimmy Savile and children's homes

A number of local authorities have been ordered to investigate claims that Jimmy Savile abused children at 21 children’s homes and schools in England, the Education Secretary has announced.

In a written ministerial statement, Michael Gove said the Department for Education had received information dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

“This information was uncovered as part of the document review process undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service on behalf of the Department of Health,” the minister said.

He added: “Having reviewed the information I have decided that the Department for Education should pass the information to the appropriate organisations for further investigation. In most cases the work will be conducted by the relevant local authority; in others the relevant institution or a legacy organisation will take the lead.”

The Education Secretary said that, in order to ensure consistency of approach with the NHS Savile investigations, he would be replicating the arrangements adopted by the Department of Health to quality assure the work.

He has appointed Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, a former president of the Law Society, to provide independent oversight and quality assurance of the process. She will undertake a similar role to that of Kate Lampard in the NHS trust investigations.

“I have asked Lucy Scott-Moncrieff to ensure that investigating organisations take all practicable steps to establish what happened and why at the time of the incidents and any lessons there might be to inform current safeguarding practice in our schools and children’s homes,” Gove said.

Local authorities named in the WMS and to whom information has already been provided include Leeds (which has four establishments on the list), Manchester (three), Surrey (two), Devon, Gloucestershire, Kent and various London boroughs.