Damning report: Louise Casey, pictured, was asked to inspect Rotherham Council after the child abuse scandal emerged last year and said it is 'not fit for purpose'

A criminal investigation has been launched today after a damning new report found Rotherham Council is 'not fit for purpose' and still 'in denial' about the 1,400 young girls who were abused in the town over 16 years.

Investigators concluded girls as young as 11 were left to be abused by mainly Asian men between 1997 and 2013 because the council's staff and politicians feared being labelled racist.

The council also had a 'deep-rooted' culture of sexism and bullying where it would 'shoot the messenger' and sought to force whistleblowers into silence or pay them off, it was said.

Inspectors also found the council 'goes to some lengths to cover up information' and said that children in the town were still at risk of abuse.

The report said South Yorkshire Police also failed in its role to protect victims, turning a blind eye to their plight and in many cases holding them responsible.

Police were said to be aware that a victim was 'raped with a broken bottle' and some girls were 'ordered to kiss perpetrators' feet at gun point' but never took any action.

In one case an officer told a victim: 'Don't worry- you aren't the first girl to be raped by XX and you won't be the last'.

The council cabinet was forced to resign today after the shocking report laid bare their failings.

Now its disgraced former Labour leadership face the threat of serious criminal charges over claims in the report that evidence of abuse was deliberately obscured over a number of years.

Possible charges are understood to include misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice, both of which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The National Crime Agency has said it will examine a number of potentially criminal matters identified in the report.

Today Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced new elections in 2016 to replace the council's 'wholly dysfunctional' political leadership and so the town can have a 'fresh start'.

The devastating 160-page report by Louise Casey today revealed that:

Reports of abuse were ignored by the council because it was 'in denial' about the crimes

Staff and politicians failed to tackle abuse by Asian gangs 'for fear of being seen as racist'

Senior councillors bullied and suppressed staff who highlighted that the abusers were ‘predominantly’ Pakistani

Whistleblowers were silenced with pay-offs or 'bullied out of the organisation' if they refused to stay silent

Officers ignored warnings from a youth project in town about habitual abuse of children in the town and then shut it down

There was a 'a pervading culture of sexism, bullying and silencing debate' at the council

The council failed children and is still failing them and has 'taken more care of its reputation than it has its of its most needy'

Victims were denied support and justice as social services and police blamed each other for lack of action

Even after the grooming scandal was exposed, a serving councillor told the new inquiry he believed the Asian men accused of grooming girls for sex had in reality been ‘fooled’ by girls aged 14 and 15 whose clothing and make-up made them ‘look more adult’

One whistleblower branded the council a ‘machine’ which ‘simply exists to cover up and destroy’

Louise Casey, who is director-general for troubled families at the government's Communities Department, was asked to investigate the council by Mr Pickles.

The minister told MPs this afternoon he will impose early elections in 2016 on Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and proposes to send in commissioners to take over the responsibilities of the council's cabinet in the wake of her report.

Intervention: Rotherham Borough Council, pictured, faces new elections and new management after the latest damning report over the town's child abuse scandal

Clear-out: Former council leader Roger Stone (left) and chief executive Martin Kimber (right) left after the scandal emerged fully last year

In the hard-hitting report, she highlighted how serving councillors were still querying the mathematics behind the figure of abuse victims, with officials complaining the authority shouldn’t ‘roll over and accept the report’.

Branding its culture one of ‘bullying, sexism, suppression and misplaced political correctness’, she said the authority – which in the past eight years has never had fewer than 50 Labour members – had a ‘deep-rooted’ culture of ‘suppressing bad news’ and ‘goes to some length to cover up information and to silence whistleblowers’.

Whistleblowers who tried to raise concerns lost their jobs, and the report also said police officers often did not seem to believe the girls, their families or those who reported problems, and did not treat them as victims.

One former police officer said: ‘They were running scared of the race issue… there is no doubt that in Rotherham, this has been a problem with Pakistani men for years and years. People were scared of being called racist.’

But it was Mrs Casey’s finding that Rotherham Council remained ‘in denial’ over the scandal – and the description of the 1,400 figure as a ‘conservative’ estimate – which spread political shockwaves yesterday and prompted a dramatic Commons statement in which Mr Pickles said ministers were effectively taking over the troubled authority.

Mr Pickles will send in five commissioners to ‘provide new leadership’, taking over the role of the ‘current wholly dysfunctional cabinet’. The commissioners will appoint the council’s chief executive and other senior officials.

Mr Pickles said: ‘It is because the council is so seriously failing the people of Rotherham, and particularly some of the most vulnerable in that borough, that I am proposing to take this truly exceptional step. My aim will be to return these responsibilities to local democratic control as rapidly as possible.’

A source close to the Communities Secretary said: ‘In terms of scope and scale, this is unprecedented.’ It is expected Mr Pickles will call local elections in the town early next year.

Rotherham Council has 14 days to respond, after which the commissioners will be appointed.

During the Commons debate, Ukip MP Mark Reckless suggested that Labour’s single-party rule in Rotherham had contributed to the abuse – and said it was only since last year’s election of ten Ukip councillors that there had been any opposition at all.

KEY FINDINGS OF INVESTIGATION INTO ROTHERHAM COUNCIL A council in denial about serious and on-going safeguarding failures

An archaic culture of sexism, bullying and discomfort around race

Failure to address past weaknesses, in particular in Children's Social Care

Weak and ineffective arrangements for taxi licensing which leave the public at risk

Ineffective leadership and management, including political leadership

No shared vision, a partial management team and ineffective liaisons with partners

A culture of covering up uncomfortable truths, silencing whistleblowers and paying off staff rather than dealing with difficult issues Advertisement

‘Even if single-party Labour control may not have caused what happened, it did allow it,’ he said.

It came as it emerged a corrupt police officer and two local politicians - including one serving councillor - have today been accused of having sex with abuse victims.

The abuse scandal in Rotherham is considered the worst in Britain's history with experts estimating that 1,400 girls fell into the clutches of paedophiles.

Many of the victims, often from children's homes or troubled backgrounds, were plied with alcohol and drugs before being used for sex or pimped to others.

'Almost all' of the perpetrators are believed to be part of predatory Pakistani gangs, with victims claiming they were at times 'raped once a day' for many years, an inquiry by Professor Alexis Jay found last year.

The controversy that followed the publication of the Jay Report led to Rotherham council leader Roger Stone leaving his post.

The most high profile resignation was that of South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright, who was the Rotherham councillor overseeing children's services between 2005 and 2010.

Both men refused to be interviewed by Louise Casey.

Today, in her inspection report, Ms Casey said: 'Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) is not fit for purpose.

'The council's culture is unhealthy: bullying, sexism, suppression and misplaced "political correctness" have cemented its failures. The council is currently incapable of tackling its weaknesses, without a sustained intervention.'

Ms Casey fully endorsed the findings of Professor Alexis Jay's report which caused huge controversy when it was published in August last year.

She said the council 'demonstrates a resolute denial of what has happened in the borough'.

Fresh start: Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced new elections to replace the council's 'wholly dysfunctional' political leadership

Ms Casey said her inspection team found 'a council in denial about serious and on-going safeguarding failures' and 'an archaic culture of sexism, bullying and discomfort around race'.

She said it had failed to address past weaknesses in children's care and had 'ineffective leadership and management, including political leadership'.

The report highlighted 'a culture of covering up uncomfortable truths, silencing whistleblowers and paying off staff rather than dealing with difficult issues.'

It said: 'RMBC goes to some length to cover up information and to silence whistleblowers.'

Ms Casey said in her report: 'Terrible things happened in Rotherham and on a significant scale.

New complaints: Police and politicians have been accused of having sex with abuse victims in Rotherham. Girls like Katie (pictured) were among 1,400 girls abused over 16 years

'Children were sexually exploited by men who came largely from the Pakistani heritage community.

'Not enough was done to acknowledge this, to stop it happening, to protect children, to support victims and to apprehend perpetrators.'

She said: 'Upon arriving in Rotherham, these I thought were the uncontested facts. My job was to conduct an inspection and decide whether the council was now fit for purpose. However this was not the situation I encountered when I reached Rotherham.

'Instead, I found a council in denial. They denied that there had been a problem, or if there had been, that it was as big as was said. If there was a problem they certainly were not told - it was someone else's job. They were no worse than anyone else. They had won awards. The media were out to get them.'

After the report was published, campaign groups said it was a 'welcome stop' towards recognising the council's current and historic failures.

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said: 'Louise Casey's report into the abject failure of Rotherham council to protect their most vulnerable children only serves to highlight why we need immediate action - she has concluded the council is not fit for purpose.

'This shocking report is a welcome step towards recognising the myriad of past and present failures and ensuring this sort of abuse can never happen again.

'While bringing those responsible for such a dereliction of duty to justice, we cannot forget the reality that exploitation is ongoing in other areas of the country.'

She also called for an inquiry, saying: 'In light of this, 4Children today reaffirms its previous call for a time limited inquiry, led by the Prime Minister, into child sexual exploitation across the UK, recognising the scale and importance of the issue, so that ongoing child sexual exploitation can be addressed without delay.

'Justice Lowell Goddard's inquiry is vital, but must not detract from the urgency of preventing further abuse of vulnerable children.'

Scandal: A report by Professor Alexis Jay last August revealed how some 1,400 vulnerable girls had been subjected to rape, violence and trafficking by gangs of mainly Asian men in Rotherham, pictured, between 1997 and 2013

Karen Froggatt, locality director for the charity Victim Support, added: 'Six months ago, when the horrific extent of the child abuse in Rotherham was revealed, we said "never again".

'As a charity that is supporting the survivors of that abuse, I am shocked this new report says children in Rotherham are still at risk because the council is not "fit for purpose".

'We are independent of the police, the council and the other agencies found to be wanting by these inquiries.

AUTHOR OF THE DAMNING REPORT Louise Casey, the head of the government's troubled families unit since 2011, is regarded as one of the toughest and most experienced civil servants and is known for her outspoken views. The 49-year-old made her reputation working for Tony Blair on anti-social behaviour issues, but has also conducted wider inquiries for government into issues such as the treatment of victims in the criminal justice system. She also worked with the government in the aftermath of the riots in 2011 and previously headed up the cross-government Respect Task Force, tackling anti-social behaviour. She also served as deputy director of Shelter, the homelessness charity, between 1992 and 1999. Ms Casey, who was born in Portsmouth, was awarded the Companion of the Order of Bath (CB) in 2008. Advertisement

'We will continue to work with survivors of child exploitation and abuse, and we are here to listen to anyone concerned about a child or young person they suspect is being groomed.'

In the report, Ms Casey also devoted a whole section to the council's 'denial' of the problem - even highlighting its scepticism about the findings of the Jay Report itself.

She said: 'When inspectors commenced work in Rotherham, we were struck by the overwhelming denial of what Professor Jay set out in her report. This attitude was so prevalent that we had to go back through many of the aspects of her work in order to satisfy ourselves that the council had no grounds upon which further action could be delayed.'

And she said: 'When asked, 70 per cent of the current Rotherham councillors we spoke to (including those in the Cabinet) disputed Professor Jay's findings.'

Ms Casey also criticised many of those interviewed for doubting the 1,400 figure highlighted in the Jay Report as at least the number of children involved.

She said: 'We have concluded that the 1,400 figure is a conservative one and that RMBC and South Yorkshire Police (where some also dispute the figures) would do better to concentrate on taking effective action rather than seeking to continue a debate about the numbers.'

Ms Casey said the council 'could not deal sensibly' with the issue of race.

'Indeed, some councillors held racist or wholly outdated or inappropriate views,' she added.

'Many of these views were known about but not challenged.'

Ms Casey added: 'Frontline staff were clearly anxious about being branded racist.

'Whether there was an element of self-censorship or otherwise, the impact of this was clear. The council was not dealing with a serious problem right before its eyes.

Ms Casey said the suppression of 'uncomfortable issues' had prevented 'discussion and effective action' (file picture)

RESOLUTE DENIAL: ROTHERHAM COUNCIL SILENCED WHISTLEBLOWERS AND COVERED UP 'UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS' The shocking report found that Rotherham councillors demonstrated a 'resolute denial' of what has happened - even after the damning Jay Report revealed the extent of the sex abuse scandal. Louise Casey said her inspection team found 'a council in denial about serious and on-going safeguarding failures' as well as a 'culture of covering up uncomfortable truths'. She also claimed the council attempted to 'silence whistleblowers and pay off staff' rather than 'dealing with difficult issues'. The report reads: 'RMBC goes to some length to cover up information and to silence whistleblowers. They (councillors) denied that there had been a problem, or if there had been, that it was as big as was said. 'If there was a problem they certainly were not told - it was someone else's job. They were no worse than anyone else. They had won awards. The media were out to get them.' The report described how there was an 'unhealthy climate' of 'shoot the messenger' where people 'feared to speak out because they had seen the consequences of doing so for others'. One whistleblower told the inspectors that no-one would 'dare' use the whistleblowing policy because it 'would come back to bite them in the backside and they would be bullied out of the organisation'. Another said they were 'proud' to have blown the whistle, despite it costing 'my job and my career'. They said: 'I stepped forward on behalf of young people … It cost me my job and my career. I feel it was worth it. I am proud to have done so despite the cost to my health and financial situation… the machine at RMBC doesn’t care, won’t listen and simply exists to cover up and destroy.' One concerned member of staff said threats had been made towards staff who did not toe the line, while another 'feared for reprisals' if they came forward with information. Inspectors found that, in two cases involving whistleblowers, officers considered the risk of potential harm to children as secondary to hitting targets or avoiding uncomfortable press coverage. The report also highlighted how staff and councillors were dubious about the findings of the Jay Report itself, with some saying they were 'bruised' by its publication. One councillor claimed the accusations were 'biased', 'exaggerated' and motivated by politics. She said: 'When inspectors commenced work in Rotherham, we were struck by the overwhelming denial of what Professor Jay set out in her report. She added: 'When asked, 70 per cent of the current Rotherham councillors we spoke to (including those in the Cabinet) disputed Professor Jay's findings.' Advertisement

'Certainly, this was not limited to frontline officers. There was also a clear perception among senior officers that the ethnic dimension of CSE in Rotherham was taboo.'

She said: 'Rotherham's suppression of these uncomfortable issues and its fear of being branded racist has done a disservice to the Pakistani heritage community as well as the wider community. It has prevented discussion and effective action to tackle the problem.

'This has allowed perpetrators to remain at large, has let victims down and, perversely, has allowed the far right to try and exploit the situation.

'These may have been unintended consequences but the impact remains the same and reaches into the present day.'

Rotherham's suppression of these uncomfortable issues and its fear of being branded racist has done a disservice to the Pakistani heritage community as well as the wider community Louise Casey

Commenting on the published report, Birmingham City Council chief executive Mark Rogers, who also represents 1,300 chief executives and senior strategic managers as part of Solace, said: 'Today's report makes upsetting and troubling reading.

'For too long, key agencies in Rotherham did not properly safeguard vulnerable children in the borough. Abuse was not tackled and concerns were ignored or even suppressed.

'The Society is committed to playing its part in tackling the scourge of Child Sexual Exploitation.

'To do this, we must always listen to children, take their concerns seriously and act upon them.

'We must also be clear that children can never consent to their own abuse. Anyone who does not understand these principles has no place holding a position of responsibility and authority.'

He added: 'In these exceptional circumstances, it is right that the Government takes the intervention steps it has set out.'

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion said the report was ‘disgusting’, adding that every page had a ‘new horror on it’.

And John Mann, the Labour MP for Bassetlaw who called for Rotherham to be taken over last year, said: ‘This is without any question the tip of the iceberg.

‘There are more Rotherhams and more will come to light. The same problem has been going on across the country, with people ignoring children at risk.’

Shocking attitude of current Rotherham councillor who blamed teenage abuse victims for wearing 'modern dress and make-up' and 'fooling' Asian men

A serving Rotherham councillor suggested teenage victims were to blame for their own exploitation because their 'modern dress' and make-up 'fooled' Asian men.

According to the report, the unnamed councillor - who still sits on Rotherham Council - said the girls tricked their abusers into thinking they were adults by 'the way they make up'.

The shocking comments were highlighted in the report as an example of a 'wholly outdated' attitude which meant councillors could not deal 'sensibly' with the issue.

The councillor had also added that British Asians felt they had been 'hit' by Jay and suggested the lack of arrests could mean they had been wrongly targetted.

The unnamed councillor said: 'The girls, the way they dress, they don’t look 14-15 years old, the way they make up – they look more adult.

'They go into clubs, get served in bars, It’s very difficult for me, very modern dress…..They have been fooled definitely [men in Asian Community]'.

They added: 'The British Asians. If you have identified so many perpetrators, why have there been so little arrests? They feel British Asians have been hit by Jay.'

In a section entitled The 'Race Issue', Ms Casey described how inspectors heard a 'range of views' from interviewees 'that caused concern' in regards to race and culture.

She said the 'racist, wholly outdated or inappropriate views' expressed by councillors in the report reinforced the conclusion that they 'could not deal sensibly with the issue.'

VICTIM: NOBODY TOOK ME SERIOUSLY BUT THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING ON Abuser: Umar Razaq served less than a year One victim of the scandal, Lizzie – who was just 12 when she was groomed – said she was glad the council has resigned and condemned them for allowing the abuse to take place. Her abuser, Umar Razaq, served less than a year despite the depravity of his crimes, and later boasted of ‘living the high life’ while on a ‘holiday of a lifetime’. After being released from prison, Razaq allegedly stalked Lizzie, not her real name, after ‘following’ her boyfriend on Facebook, which allowed him to look at their updates. She says she told police and Rotherham Council about it but they ‘weren’t bothered’. Lizzie said: ‘I’m pleased they have all resigned, that they’ve all gone. They were a total waste of time and didn’t do the job they were meant to. ‘They were worse than useless because they were meant to be running the place, protecting us and they were all part of the problem. They should have gone years ago – it would have saved a lot of trouble.’ She said: ‘I told South Yorkshire Police what he was doing and how scared I was but no one seemed to care. The police knew exactly what was going on months ago but none of them were bothered.’ Lizzie added: ‘Some of those councillors were involved in covering it up. They were to blame for it going on and on. It’s shocking they didn’t go years ago. Now I’m left trying to get on with my life. I’m trying to put it all behind me. I tried counselling – that was rubbish. It’s hard moving on.’ Lizzie was 12 and living with her grandmother in Rotherham when she first came across Razaq in January 2008. He was 22 – ten years her senior – but plied her with cigarettes and alcohol, and she eventually started to meet him in the town centre. She said: ‘Umar treated me like a princess and said my family did not love me and didn’t want me. He got my trust then did horrible things to me. I was only a little girl when I was raped for the first time. Five men sexually abused me, in alleyways, parks, on playing fields and even in cars.’ Another victim, Gemma (not her real name), said the men who abused her were still free and had faced no legal action for the crimes they committed. She said: ‘It’s still going, if not worse because now they’re having to hide it more. I’m still seeing my abusers driving young girls in cars – they’re untouchable. We’ve had no arrests, no charges, evidence is still being lost.’ Another victim, Jessica, slammed the decision to shut down Risky Business – the youth service working directly with victims of child sex abuse in Rotherham. She said: ‘It shouldn’t have been shut down because that was an agency that was working with them and trying to tackle the situation.’ One victim, Lizzie – who was just 12 when she was groomed – said she was glad the council had resigned Advertisement

Political correctness and fear of appearing racist stopped council speaking out against Pakistani community

The sexual abuse of about 1,400 children at the hands of Asian men went largely unreported for 16 years because staff feared they would be seen as racist, the report said today.

Children as young as 11 were trafficked, beaten, and raped by large numbers of men between 1997 and 2013 but victims were denied justice because of misplaced 'political correctness', it was said.

One current council officer said politicians 'wanted to use any other word than Asian males. They were terrified of [the impact on] community cohesion'.

Political correctness: There were fears that taking to the Asian community to task over the abuse of girls in Rotherham would disturb community cohesion and staff were 'mindful' of being called racist

Another public servant told investigators: 'My experience of council as it was and is – Asian men very powerful, and the white British are very mindful of racism and frightened of racism allegations so there is no robust challenge. They had massive influence in the town'.

The report said: 'Frontline staff were clearly anxious about being branded racist.

'Whether there was an element of self-censorship or otherwise, the impact of this was clear. The council was not dealing with a serious problem right before its eyes.

'Certainly, this was not limited to frontline officers. There was also a clear perception among senior officers that the ethnic dimension of CSE in Rotherham was taboo.'

She said: 'Rotherham's suppression of these uncomfortable issues and its fear of being branded racist has done a disservice to the Pakistani heritage community as well as the wider community. It has prevented discussion and effective action to tackle the problem.

'This has allowed perpetrators to remain at large, has let victims down and, perversely, has allowed the far right to try and exploit the situation.

'These may have been unintended consequences but the impact remains the same and reaches into the present day.'

Failures of South Yorkshire Police who did not believe victims and even referred to them as 'little slags'

Police in Rotherham refused to believe victims and sometimes even blamed them for the abuse calling them 'little slags', the report said.

Investigators also found that South Yorkshire Police were guilty of having a 'phenomenally low conviction rate' which allowed perpetrators to freely abuse up to 1,400 girls in 16 years.

Between 1997 and 2013 – the period covered by Professor Jay – there were five convictions of men sexually exploiting girls and young women.

South Yorkshire's chief constable David Crompton, right, has been under huge pressure to explain his force's attitude towards child sex exploitation over the last 15 years.

One officer told investigators: 'The girls were blamed for a lot of what happened. It's unbelievable and key to why it wasn't taken seriously as an issue.

Another witness said: 'There was no awareness. The view was that they were little slags.

They didn't understand the situation, and thought that the girls were happy, or complicit in it. The sense was that if there had been any offence it had been by the girls, for luring the men in.'

On at least one occasion children as young as 13 or 14 were accused by officers of consenting to sex, even though the age of consent in the UK is 16.

Today's report said: 'There were numerous occasions in which girls were not believed.

'They were threatened with wasting police time, they were told they had consented to sex and, on occasion, they were arrested at the scene of a crime, rather than the perpetrators.

'Police did not understand the terror which many victims lived in and their consequent fear of testifying and their anxiety over whether police could protect them. Some of the crimes we were made aware of included rape with a broken bottle and girls being ordered to kiss perpetrators' feet at gun point.'

The report said that police were inactive in many cases put extreme pressure on vulnerable children to testify against the men who abused them and threatened their lives.

One witness said: 'They believed that they could not be protected. Some of the police actions suggested they were right'.

Two councillors and corrupt police officer accused of having sex with victims of Rotherham abuse scandal

Labour MP Sarah Champion, who represents the South Yorkshire town, said she now thinks the figures in the Jay Report may be an underestimate

A corrupt police officer and two local politicians - including one serving councillor - have been accused of having sex with abuse victims in Rotherham, it was revealed today.

The PC also allegedly passed on information to gangs who are believed to have abused 1,400 children and vulnerable young girls over a 16 year period.

It came as a long-awaited independent inspection report into Rotherham Borough Council's is due to be published today, which could recommend the local authority is stripped of its powers.

The two Rotherham councillors accused of having sex with abuse victims have been passed on the National Crime Agency, which is investigating the years of abuse in the town.

The police officer has been referred to Independent Police Complaints Commission by his force, South Yorkshire Police, according to The Times.

Another colleague has also been reported to the IPCC for allegedly failing to pass on information about the officer's conduct.

Some were told they and their families would be killed if they spoke out while police and council workers were found to have turned a blind eye.

Victims also say that the majority of their abusers are still walking the streets of the town.

Last week the town's MP said victims of the Rotherham child abuse scandal may number as many as 2,000 - hundreds more than were identified in damning report - the town's MP said today.

The report by Professor Alexis Jay revealed how some 1,400 vulnerable girls had been subjected to rape, violence and trafficking by gangs of mainly Asian men in the town between 1997 and 2013.

Labour MP Sarah Champion said new victims were coming to her on a 'weekly basis'.

'I would say it's closer to a couple of thousand people who have been groomed or have been sexually exploited in this little town,' she said.

Her claim was supported by the Risky Business community project in Rotherham, the investigation claimed, which said it identified 1,700 victims between 1999 and 2011.

Risky Business was one of the few organisations praised by the report, but it was largely ignored and even harassed. It was later shut down.

The Jay report provoked shock and controversy when it was published last summer.

It revealed the sexual exploitation of young girls and said police and council officials had betrayed the victims by not tackling the problem.

The National Crime Agency has taken over the investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and is in the preliminary stage of its inquiry.

Whistleblowers bullied out of their jobs

Whistleblowers who flagged up a lack of action by council bosses were bullied, harassed and driven out of their jobs, the report revealed.

Instead of acting on the confidential information given to them to help protect children at risk of abuse, the bosses turned on the informants.

Inspectors found the council went to ‘some lengths’ to cover up information handed to it and then silence the people who provided it. In three cases, people who blew the whistle felt they had been marginalised by bosses, bullied, harassed and victimised as a result.

Similarly, a youth service, whose job it was to highlight the horrendous level of child sex abuse in the community, was closed down.

In two cases, whistleblowers claimed they were deliberately ‘restructured’ out. In a third case, they felt they had been marginalised and were forced to leave their job.

One said: ‘I stepped forward on behalf of young people. I am proud to have done so despite the cost to my health and financial situation. The machine at Rotherham Council doesn’t care, won’t listen and simply exists to cover up and destroy.’

Another staff member said: ‘We’ve all been made aware of the [whistleblowing] procedure, but no one dares ever use it, because if they did, eventually it would come back to bite them in the backside and they would be bullied out of the organisation.’

In the report, Louise Casey said: ‘It has created an unhealthy climate where people fear to speak out because they have seen the consequences of doing so for others.

‘Staff have spoken to inspectors of being afraid to speak out, told to keep quiet, instructed to cover up, and of a culture where “if you want to keep your job, you keep your head down and your mouth shut”.

‘Inspectors received evidence to show that the council did not always do the right thing. Sometimes this was because officers were worried about the impact on the council’s reputation.’

The youth centre, Risky Business, which worked directly with victims of child sex abuse, flagged up ‘uncomfortable truths’ and was shut down.

Mrs Casey said: ‘Child abuse and exploitation happens all over the country, but Rotherham is different in that it was repeatedly told by its own youth service what was happening and it chose, not only to not act, but to close that service down.’

She added: ‘This is important because it points to how it has dealt with uncomfortable truths put before it.’

ROTHERHAM CHILD ABUSE: HOW SCANDAL UNFOLDED OVER TWO DECADES Early to mid 1990s According to the Jay Report, community workers come across examples of child sexual exploitation and find children under the care of the local authority are at risk of being targeted. 1997 The 'Risky Business' youth project is set up to work with people between the ages of 11 and 25 in Rotherham, amid concerns young people are being abused through prostitution. Late 1990s Youth workers start to identify vulnerable girls and young women on Rotherham's streets and refer them to children's social care. Community workers first came across examples of child sexual exploitation regarding children under the care of the local authority in Rotherham (pictured) in the mid-1990s Early 2000s Shaun Wright is elected as a Labour councillor on Rotherham Council. A small group of professionals from key agencies meet children at risk of, or involved in, child sexual exploitation but their work is not properly supported, according to the Jay report. Senior police and social workers think the extent of the issue is being exaggerated. 2002 A Home Office draft report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham criticises agencies and says there is a 'high prevalence of young women being coerced and abused through prostitution'. Police and senior officers at the council are unhappy with the report, claiming some facts are either exaggerated or made up. The report's author does not complete her work. August 2003 A report by strategic drugs analyst Dr Angie Heal, commissioned by South Yorkshire Police, finds there are a 'significant number of girls and some boys who are being sexually exploited' in Rotherham. In 2003, a report commissioned by South Yorkshire Police found there were a 'significant number of girls and some boys who were being sexually exploited' in Rotherham (file picture) September 2003 The Sexual Exploitation Forum is set up, holding monthly meetings to discuss cases of children who are being sexually exploited or are at risk. April 2005 Rotherham Council sets up a new department of children and young people’s services, with Councillor Shaun Wright appointed cabinet member for the department. April 2007 An investigation into the grooming and sexual abuse of young boys identifies more than 70 alleged victims. A man is convicted of offences against 10 children. 2008 Operation Central is set up to investigate men believed to be involved in child sexual exploitation. Autumn 2009 Ofsted rates Rotherham's children's services as 'inadequate'. Councillor Wright resigns from his council cabinet post in the wake of the report. December 2009 Shaun Wright was elected onto Rotherham council in the early 2000s and was later elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire The minister of state for young people and families serves the council with an improvement notice for its children's safeguarding services. 2010 Five men given lengthy jail terms after they are found guilty of grooming teenage girls for sex. April 2010 The local Safeguarding Children Board sets up a child sexual exploitation sub group. September 2012 The Times publishes an investigation revealing that a confidential police report had warned thousands of child sexual exploitation crimes were being committed in South Yorkshire by networks of Asian men. The newspaper also reports that agencies in the town had extensive knowledge of such crimes for decades. South Yorkshire Police refutes claims in article. October 2012 Rotherham Borough Council, South Yorkshire Police and other agencies set up a Child Sexual Exploitation team. Home Affairs Select Committee tells force's chief constable to 'get a grip' on the issue. November 2012 Shaun Wright wins election to become South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner. He states that tackling child sexual exploitation is one of his priorities. January 2013 The chief executive of the council, Martin Kimber, appears before the Home Affairs Select Committee to answer questions about the lack of prosecutions. August 2013 Four women sue the council for failing to protect them when they were children. September 2013 The council announces it is commissioning an independent inquiry. August 2014 Professor Alexis Jay publishes commissioned report into child abuse in Rotherham, revealing more than 1,400 children had been subjected to rape, violence and trafficking between 1997 and 2013. Rotherham Borough Council leader Roger Stone steps down with immediate effect. Mr Wright issues a statement saying he will stay in his job as PCC, despite calls for him to stand down. Home Secretary Theresa May backs calls for Mr Wright to step down and his deputy PCC Tracey Cheetham announces she is resigning because she is 'unable to continue' in her role. In August last year, Professor Alexis Jay (pictured) published report into child abuse in Rotherham, revealing more than 1,400 children had been subjected to rape, violence and trafficking September 2014 Mr Wright resigns. The Labour Party suspends four of its members pending an investigation: former leader of the council Roger Stone, ex-deputy council leader, Jahangir Akhtar, Gwendoline Russell, and Shaukat Ali. November 2014 The Independent Police Complaints Commission announces ten police officers mentioned in the Jay Report are under investigation December 2014 National Crime Agency (NCA) begins investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham February 2015 Devastating report is published by Louise Casey. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announces new elections in 2016 to replace Rotherham Council's 'wholly dysfunctional' political leadership. Advertisement