New twist on Rolf Harris video

A video of Rolf Harris urging young people to stand up against sexual assault has taken on a more sinister twist.

The entertainer, found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault of a minor, had already committed nine of the offenses at the time the video came out.

The educational film, called Kids Can Say No!, was designed for "preventing child abuse", and was developed back in 1985.

The video shows Harris with a number of children teaching them "the basis of yes feelings and no feelings and what to do”, according to the UK-based company that distributed the film.


“There are bad secrets,” Harris says in the video.

“If you’re really scared they’re going to hurt you, tell them anything just to get yourself away safely,” he advises the children.

Rolf Harris appeared in a 20-minute video teaching children that it's ok to speak up about abuse. Photo: Supplied
Rolf Harris appeared in a 20-minute video teaching children that it's ok to speak up about abuse. Photo: Supplied

“Afterwards, remember they want you to keep a bad secret, a secret that could hurt other children.”

Harris spends the 20-minute film trying to teach children the difference between good behaviour and bad behaviour, and different situations where they should speak up if they felt uncomfortable.

“Breathe that air, you feel it all over your skin. It’s good, isn’t it?” he asks in the video.

Harris had already abused three of his four victims by the time the video was released. Photo: Supplied
Harris had already abused three of his four victims by the time the video was released. Photo: Supplied

“It’s the sort of feeling when you want to give someone a hug, or one of those little pats that make you feel good. It’s that sort of touching I was to talk about today because it helps you understand the sort of touching that doesn’t make you feel too good.”

Harris's conviction puts a dark spin on the tape, with the former children's performer assaulting another one of his victims after appearing in the video.

Harris has been found guilty of 12 offences and will be sentenced later this week. Photo: Supplied
Harris has been found guilty of 12 offences and will be sentenced later this week. Photo: Supplied

Yewtree's biggest scalp

Harris has become the biggest celebrity scalp to be claimed by detectives from the high-profile British sex crime investigation Operation Yewtree.

The 84-year-old is the second person to be convicted under the inquiry which was set up in the wake of abuse claims against Jimmy Savile.

Police were contacted by one alleged victim, named in seven of the 12 charges that Harris faced, after she heard the claims made about late DJ Savile and gained the confidence to come forward in November 2012.

Another three victims then contacted officers - two in the UK and one in Australia - after British newspaper The Sun publicly named Harris as a Yewtree suspect for the first time in April 2013.

Police and prosecutors have previously faced questions over the success of Operation Yewtree which has so far seen two convictions out of 17 arrests.

Scotland Yard has defended the investigation, saying officers have to take alleged victims seriously, particularly in the wake of national failings over Savile.

Eight people have been told they will face no further action; three suspects, including broadcaster Paul Gambaccini, remain on bail; and a total of six people have been charged.

Former popstar Gary Glitter and ex-Radio One DJ Chris Denning are currently going through the court system, and driver David Smith was due to face trial but died before he could do so.



DJ Dave Lee Travis was the first person to go through a trial under Yewtree, but the proceedings ended with him being acquitted on 12 indecent assault charges, and a hung jury on one count of the same charge and a count of sexual assault.

Prosecutors later confirmed that they would go to a retrial on the two charges, and that Travis would face an additional count of indecent assault.

British celebrity publicist Max Clifford in May was sentenced to eight years in jail for a string of sex assaults against teenagers.

Clifford was found guilty of eight indecent assaults on four young women aged 15 to 19 between 1977 and 1984.