Move to strip abuser of freedom honour

Jimmy Savile may be posthumously stripped of his Freedom of the Borough status next month, Scarborough Council has said.

His name was removed from the roll of honour board in Scarborough town hall late last year after widespread allegations of abuse emerged.

But councillors in the North Yorkshire seaside town said they would wait for the Metropolitan Police’s investigation to finish before meeting again to decide whether to officially strip him of the title.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tom Fox, above, leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said: .

“My immediate consideration is that the abhorrence of each and every substantiated allegation is such that a most important responsibility of Scarborough Borough Council is to ensure a motion is presented to our next full council meeting on February 22 to remove Jimmy Savile’s Freedom of the Borough of Scarborough honour and ensure his name is permanently removed from all records of the honour.

“We must also acknowledge the courage of and empathise with Savile’s victims and indeed those who were preyed upon by others who came forward to reveal horrendous abuse.”