a host of failings left gangs free to rape , traffic and sexually abuse at least 1,400 children in the town between 1997 and 2013 , an inquiry by the national crime agency -lrb- nca -rrb- concluded .
the review was launched last december in the wake of the damning jay report , which exposed widespread failures of the council , police and social services in tackling child sex exploitation .
` over the years , intelligence and investigative opportunities in relation to child sexual exploitation have been overlooked by south yorkshire police .