Jimmy Savile Scandal: Former BBC Presenter Suspected of 199 Sex Crimes

LONDON – Police investigating the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal said they have recorded 199 alleged crimes in 17 police force areas against the former Top of the Pops show host.

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Police delivered their most comprehensive review of the scandal Wednesday.

London police told media the recorded alleged crimes include 31 rapes, describing the levels as unprecedented.

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"These levels of reporting of sexual abuse against a single individual are unprecedented in the UK," the police said in a statement.

The scandal, which continues to rock the BBC and provoke outrage across the U.K., has contributed to the resignation of BBC director general George Entwistle after just 54 days in the job and led to awkward questions for his predecessor Mark Thompson, who recently took over as chief executive of the New York Times.

The broadcaster has been criticized for ignoring signs of Savile's behavior in the past and not launching a broad investigation earlier.

The London Metropolitan Police, also known as Scotland Yard, is still in the process of trying to contact all potential victims.

The police investigation of Savile has also ensnared a slew of other high-profile names including celebrity publicist Max Clifford, former BBC radio DJ Dave Lee Travis and former glam-rock singer Gary Glitter.

They have all denied any wrongdoing.

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Yewtree is the name given by the police to the investigation following the allegations leveled at the late BBC stalwart, who used to host a slew of shows at the public broadcaster from the 1960s onwards until his death last year.

The police are looking at alleged abuse by Savile, Savile with others, and others on their own.

Since detectives launched their inquiry 10 weeks ago following reports in a TV documentary that Savile had abused young girls on BBC premises and at hospitals where he did charity work 450 people have come forward with allegations about Savile, mostly dealing with sexual abuse, said police.

"Our officers will continue to investigate allegations made against those who potentially can be brought to justice," the police statement said. "More arrests nationally will be forthcoming."

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