THIS week the Court of Appeal sanctioned a compensation scheme for victims of Jimmy Savile.

However it won’t provide the solace these women deserve, because since Operation Yewtree was launched, it has become clear that there was enough reason to investigate Savile while he was alive – and some of his friends, such as former Scarborough mayor Peter Jaconelli.

Unfortunately complaints were missed. Perhaps such was the way with public figures in the past, but it still doesn’t excuse the fact that young girls were often treated with disdain whenever they tried to tell their story.

Today, North Yorkshire Police apologises for historically missing opportunities to investigate allegations against Savile and Jaconelli. The force expresses “great regret” that the 35 young people allegedly abused by one or both men would never see justice, admitting there was enough evidence to consider criminal charges were they still alive.

The police are right to say sorry and we are pleased that an internal investigation has found “no evidence of misconduct”, although it did discover “organisational failure” in reporting information to higher authorities. This, the force assures us, is being addressed.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy says all present members of North Yorkshire Police are “devastated” to find that in the past they had let victims down.

We can only hope that the victims will gain some comfort in knowing that it is now less likely such abuse will ever be swept under the carpet again.