We have failed

Survivors welcome move but ask why it took so long

- BY DAVE BURKE, LIZZY BUCHAN & NICK SOMMERLAD

VICTIMS of grooming gangs last night welcomed the review into failures that allowed thousands of young girls to be preyed on by vile sex abusers for two decades.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned there will be "nowhere to hide" for predators after peer Baroness Louise Casey laid bare the denials of authorities, including ducking out of taking action against Asian-heritage men for fear of being branded racist.

Girls as young as 10 were plied with drugs and booze and mercilessly raped and abused by the gangs.

But the hell did not end there for many victims, who spent years being ignored, disbelieved or even facing prosecution for child prostitution.

The baroness's report stated: "We found the ethnicity of perpetrators is shied away from and still not recorded for two-thirds of perpetrators."

Cooper insisted the Government would accept Baroness Casey's list of recommendations, including a U-turn on holding a national inquiry.

Telford grooming gangs survivor Scarlett Jones, not her real name, said: "I welcome the review and findings and I hope politics are put to one side and everyone unites to give the victims and survivors the answers they need."

Fellow survivor and campaigner Holly Archer added: "Baroness Casey's findings are not a surprise.