A British police force said today it had found no evidence that the close relationship between its officers and Jimmy Savile had protected the late television star from prosecution for sexually abusing children.
A review by West Yorkshire Police, the force responsible for Savile's hometown Leeds in northern England, examined his ties to the force -- including that officers attended a regular "Friday Morning Club" at his flat.
BBC presenter Savile was a household name in Britain but since his death in October 2011 hundreds of allegations of rape and sexual assault have emerged against him, many involving under-age girls.
"There is no evidence that he was protected from arrest or prosecution for any offences as a result of his relationship with WYP, or individual friendships with officers," the report concluded.
The review said that Savile "was able to hide his offending from those he came into contact with and who probably thought that they knew him well."
Officers who attended the regular Friday meetings at Savile's penthouse in Leeds "described it as a 'coffee morning'" and there was no evidence of impropriety, the review said.
But the police probe did criticise the way that Savile -- a distinctive figure with his jangly jewellery, ever-present cigar and shiny tracksuits -- was recruited to front publicity campaigns and appeals for West Yorkshire Police.
It highlighted "concerns regarding the absence of a process to secure Savile's services for some of these events and also the over-reliance on personal friendships that developed between Savile and some officers over a number of years to secure that support."
The report said 68 of Savile's victims had now come forward in the force area.
In January a national police investigation branded Savile as one of Britain's worst ever sex offenders, finding that he had abused youngsters as young as eight over more than 50 years on BBC premises, in schools and hospitals, the investigation found.
A report by policing inspectors in March found that police across the country ignored abuse claims against Savile for half a century.
