Local expert to review police handling of CSE

Prof John Drew will lead the inquiry, called by police commissioner Dr Alan Billings after the scathing Jay and Casey reports on Rotherham.

The review will establish whether failings were “exclusive” to this district or inherent across the force area.

Dr Billings said: “I want this review to be fast but thorough. I want a report at the end which satisfies me that South Yorkshire Police has genuinely acknowledged and fully addressed non-recent and present day occurrences of child sexual exploitation.

“I want to feel certain that robust plans are in place to ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again.”

The review will ask if victims are at the forefront of decisions, if case-building against suspects is encouraged by the force, if SYP’s set-up hinders transparency and whether data is shared effectively.

Prof Drew, who trained as a social worker in Sheffield, was chief executive of the Youth Justice Board between 2009 and 2013.

He is also chairman of the Medway Safeguarding Children’s Board and co-chair of the North East London Children’s Resettlement Consortia.