Council-Commissioned Study Reveals ‘1,400 Children Exploited Between 1997 And 2013’

Around 1,400 children are believed to have been affected by sexual exploitation which took place across Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, according to a new report.

The study commissioned by Rotherham Borough Council revealed a series of shocking findings, including that children as young as 11 were involved in the exploitation and that many of those affected were also abducted and trafficked to other cities.

Professor Alexis Jay, who authored the report, described council failings as “blatant” and said the issue had not been prioritised by local police.

She added: “"It is hard to describe the appalling nature of the abuse that child victims suffered.”

Roger Stone, who had been leader of the council since 2003, confirmed he was to step down with immediate effect following the publication of the report.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of child abuse, our specialist child abuse lawyers could help you get justice and claim compensation. Call 0370 150 100 to talk confidentially to someone about making a claim or visit our Abuse & Criminal Injury Claims page for more information.

Expert Opinion

The scale and extent of the problems of child abuse and exploitation seen in Rotherham are both shocking and unacceptable, with this report shining an incredibly important light on this terrible issue. <br/> <br/>"It is absolutely imperative, amid all of the shock and outrage caused by these findings, that victims who suffered as a result of these problems are able to access the vital counselling and support they need to come to terms with the physical and psychological trauma they have endured. <br/> <br/>"The other key priority is that the release of these findings leads to real change in Rotherham and elsewhere, with local authorities actively stepping up efforts to tackle and identify any potential abuse at the earliest possible opportunity. The safety of vulnerable young people must always come first and it is vital that lessons are learned from these awful revelations." Luke Daniels - Partner