An investigation has found evidence of "appalling" exploitation of at least 1,400 children in Rotherham over a period of 16 years. The independent investigation found that the majority of the perpetrators were of Pakistani heritage.

The inquiry carried out by Professor Alexis Jay looked at how Rotherham Council's children's services department dealt with cases involving child exploitation between 1997 and 2013. She found there was a "collective failure" by both the police and the local council to stop the abuse.

Prof Jay says there was evidence that senior people in the council and police wanted to "play down" the "ethnic dimensions" of the sexual exploitation for fear of being regarded as racist.