There are several references in the Netflix documentary Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story to a "Friday Morning Club".
The "Friday Morning Club" was a coffee morning the Leeds-born TV presenter and child abuser held at his penthouse overlooking Roundhay Park every week. Friends of Savile would regularly meet at the "club", which ran for approximately 20 years starting in the 1980s, for tea, coffee and a chat.
Eight West Yorkshire Police (WYP) officers also attended the club to socialise with the former DJ. Four of these officers attended once but the other four visited regularly, a report into Savile's relationship with WYP revealed.
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Savile was accused of having undue influence over police and the force was accused of "shielding" him which enabled one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders to evade justice until his death in 2011. When Savile was interviewed by Surrey Police two years earlier, following a complaint of historic sexual assault, he told Surrey officers he socialised with "senior police people" in Leeds.
Three years later Savile's crimes were revealed on the ITV investigations programme Exposure. An inquiry into Savile's relationship with WYP was ordered and a report, written by then WYP Detective Chief Superintendent David Knopwood, was published in May 2013.
The report said officers had attended Savile's flat on Friday mornings as part of their neighbourhood patrols, although some had visited while off-duty. Officers said the club was nothing more than tea and a chat with Savile and some of his other friends.
Some officers said Savile would read out what he called "weirdo" letters – "begging letters" asking for charitable donations – he had received. Officers insisted none of the letters accused Savile of sexual or other offences.
The report found no evidence the eight officers had acted inappropriately.
It said: "Concerns have been expressed in relation to the FMC [Friday Morning Club]; the enquiry has found no evidence to support these concerns. In spite of the rumour and speculation surrounding this meeting, no evidence has been found of any police impropriety or misconduct"
Dealings between WYP and Savile had been informal, through a serving officer and friend of Savile. The report says WYP would have "benefited" from a formal, recorded procedure between the force and high profile people.
The force's action plan at the end of the report said: "WYP will develop its current policy to ensure that associations and relationships with high profile individuals receive the same level of scrutiny and management as relationships with other individuals to ensure effective safeguarding measures are in place to protect the public and maintain public confidence."
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