Jimmy Savile in 1981. Photo: PA Wire.
REPORTS of sex abuse across the Thames Valley have more than doubled in the past five years, new figures have shown.
More than 1,500 people reported abuse in the region last year, according to statistics released by Thames Valley Police this month- twice as many as in 2011.
The force claimed the increase was due to the "Jimmy Savile effect", whereby more people come forward following high profile abuse cases.
Detective Sergeant Fiona Pearce said: "In the wake of Jimmy Savile, figures [of reported sex abuse] have been up massively but we’re now in a position where we can bring historical cases to court that happened 10, 20 or 30 years ago."
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