'Savile Abuse Victims Let down by Lack of Reporting by Professionals'

The BBC News
November 4, 2013

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24801140

Many victims of abuse by Jimmy Savile and others were "let down by the professionals who were meant to help them", a lawyer has warned.

Alicia Alinia, whose firm, Slater and Gordon, represents more than 70 of Jimmy Savile's alleged victims, has backed a call for "mandatory reporting" of suspected child abuse.

Former director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, has suggested that failure by professionals to report such allegations should be made a criminal offence.

Ms Alinia told the BBC that such a system had already been successful in Australia.