Forfeiture Committee: Statement regarding James Wilson Vincent Savile following allegations of numerous crimes of a sexual nature.

The Forfeiture Committee considers recommendations to remove honours from individuals where a recipient has brought the honours system into disrepute. The Forfeiture Committee is not an investigative body and is unable to make a determination of guilt or innocence. Orders of Chivalry are living Orders and individuals cease to be a member when they die, therefore honours can not be removed from individuals now deceased.

James Wilson Vincent Savile was awarded an OBE in 1972. He was knighted in 1990. He died on 29th October 2011. The Director for Public Prosecutions has since stated that criminal prosecutions should have occurred during his lifetime, based on the evidence. The Forfeiture Committee can confirm that had James Wilson Vincent Savile been convicted of the crimes of which he is accused, forfeiture proceedings would have commenced.