Rotherham Abuse - the nine steps still to come

In the next few months further reports and investigations will bring Government and legal attention to those who failed to act on widespread child sexual exploitation.

Among these is a report by Louise Casey into council failings, ordered by Secretary of State Eric Pickles, which will suggest what, if anything, needs to be removed from the council in terms of legal responsibilities.

At the Department for Education the Secretary of State asked commissioner Malcolm Newsam to report on child safety failings, with reports due this month and January.

In the Home Office, a search is underway, finally, by NSPCC boss Peter Wanless to see what happened to abuse evidence sent more than a decade ago but apparently never acted upon.

In the House of Commons the Communities Select Committee promised to keep the investigation alive by revealing it will bring in Ofsted to answer questions, alongside a call for a committee in a future parliament to take evidence on what has happened to past and present council staff who failed children.

Rotherham Council is carrying out a search for the missing minutes of abuse meetings, with a promise to bring in an external auditor to aid the process.

South Yorkshire Police is also still to report on its failings, with 10 staff to be looked at by the IPCC watchdog.

And the National Crime Agency is leading an investigation into South Yorkshire Police and possible criminality among officers and misconduct at the council.

As all these take place as the police continue to reopen abuse cases. With local MP Sarah Champion helping support those involved, it is hoped charges may soon be brought against the men involved in the child abuse behind the report.