CPS apologises over Savile abuse The Crown Prosecution Service has apologised for not pursuing allegations of child abuse against Jimmy Savile, a former BBC television presenter, vigorously enough, and has vowed to change its approach to sexual assault cases. A review of the scandal released on Friday found that Savile could have been prosecuted in three-quarters of the allegations made but that police and prosecutors had treated alleged victims with an unjustified "degree of caution." Commander Peter Spindler, head of specialist crime at Scotland Yard, said the hundreds of cases showed the "tragic consequences" of when vulnerability and power collide. "Savile's offending footprint was vast, predatory and opportunistic," he said. He cannot face justice today but we hope this report gives some comfort to his hundreds of victims. The report revealed that about 600 people came forward to provide information for Operation Yewtree, 450 of which related directly to Savile. In total, 214 offences were recorded across 28 forces, the police said. Savile committed his offences over more than half a century and they took place in hospitals, mental healthcare establishments and a hospice. Detectives launched their inquiry three months ago after allegations were aired in a television documentary. Just under three-quarters of his victims were under 18 years old, but victims" ages ranged from eight to 46. One of the most recent offences took place in 2006, when Savile attended the final recording of the BBC's Top of the Pops music show. Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, accepted the conclusions of the review by Alison Levitt QC. If found that if police and prosecutors had taken a different approach - for example telling complainants they were not the only people to make allegations against Savile - some cases could have been brought to court. But Ms Levitt found no evidence that the decisions not to prosecute were "consciously influenced by any improper motive." Mr Starmer said the report should be seen as a "watershed moment" that needed a "robust response" from prosecutors. Mr Starmer linked the Savile cases - which involved allegations dating back to the 1970s - with more recent offences, including the "grooming" of girls in Rochdale. "In my view there are clear links to be drawn between these cases and the approach taken in other cases involving vulnerable victims of sexual abuse, particularly children," he said. Ms Levitt found police and prosecutors had seen the unwillingness of complainants to appear in court as an insurmountable barrier to a prosecution. She said on the face of it, the allegations were both "serious and credible" and there was nothing to suggest the alleged victims had colluded or that they were inherently less reliable than "a victim of burglary or a road traffic accident." The report found one alleged victim might have been prepared to give evidence if she had known there were others, that she was entitled not to have her name published and that there were "special measures" to make it easier for her to give evidence. Mr Starmer said police and prosecutors should give more support to complainants who report allegations of sexual assault and should try to build stronger cases by linking allegations and evidence, where appropriate. Joint panels with police and prosecutors will be set up to review cases where complainants who have made allegations of sexual assault in the past feel they were not dealt with appropriately, he said. The police also said lessons must be learnt from the Savile case. "We must use . . . these shocking events to prevent other children and vulnerable adults being abused in the future," Mr Spindler said. They will get a voice.