celebrities and the law: rolf harris and operation yewtree
Image via Brian Minkoff
Last week in London, Australian entertainer Rolf Harris was re-arrested on suspicion of further sexual offenses. He has been released on bail again until a date later this month.
Despite the ongoing police inquiries into historic sex abuse claims, Harris has still yet to be formally charged. These claims are related to the case by codename Operation Yewtree, the national investigation into child sex abuse claims against deceased former television presenter Jimmy Savile.
The Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal came to the public’s attention in October 2012, following the entertainer’s death. There were claims that he had abused many underage and prepubescent boys and girls, as well as adults, over four decades, and many of the victims were still alive.
This prompted the aforementioned Operation Yewtree to commence, as the Metropolitan Police Service stated that they were pursuing over 400 different lines of enquiry, based on the claims of 200 witnesses, across 14 police forces in the United Kingdom. The police forces of the UK described the extent of their investigation as ‘staggering’ and ‘on an unprecedented scale.’
During this investigation, the public were informed that there was also an Australian entertainer, currently living in London, who was also embroiled in Operation Yewtree. However, prior to March this year, the name of this individual was not released.
When Harris was arrested for the first time in relation to these charges, he was formally named to the public, confirming the rumours that had been circulating on the Internet.
Harris has still yet to make a public statement concerning the allegations, but is understood to strongly deny any wrongdoing.
Last weekend, Harris made a now rare public appearance at the Wickham Festival in Hampshire, playing to around 2500 fans. He thanked his fans for their ‘strength and support’ whilst he was on stage:
‘Just before I go any further I would just like to thank you all for my support … for your support. I didn’t say it very well, but you know what I mean. Thank you for your support, I will always wear it.’
During his time on stage, he performed his classics to a largely family-based audience.
As the nature of the allegations against Harris have not been made public, we cannot fully understand the full extent to which Harris is involved with Operation Yewtree. As the inquiry has three strands – those involving Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others – we understand that Harris falls into the category of ‘others’, and therefore his arrest has little to do with Savile. This appears to be something of an explanation for the kind of warm reception at Harris’ performance at the Festival.
The seriousness of the allegations, both those which involve and don’t involve Jimmy Savile, are not to be underestimated. Just the estimated number of victims to this kind of abuse speaks for itself at the kinds of trauma, physical and psychological abuse experienced by so many (it is estimated that this number is 589, of which 450 have been linked to Savile).
These kinds of affects and traumas go far beyond mere words written on a page, and beyond statistics, court cases and arrests – these are peoples’ lives, families and mental states, which are ongoing problems for many as they attempt to reconcile what has happened to them, and try to live happily.
Therefore, although it has not been revealed just how involved Harris was with these events, his arrests and alleged involvement cannot be underestimated.
Although to many Australians he is merely an ageing entertainer from a bygone era of television, or the slightly daggy man with his wobble board and lame dance moves, the public’s perception of him may begin to change, as it has done with Savile, while Operation Yewtree continues to be moved through the judicial system.
As yet, it is clear that this change has not yet begun to happen. As evidenced in the appearance at the Wickham Festival, he has received ‘overwhelming support’ as the case continues.
In fact, it has been reported that Harris’ friends are even concerned for him as the stress from the length of the enquiries is beginning to take its toll during the investigation. Only time will tell how Harris’ image will be challenged as the situation becomes clearer.
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