NI investigation into sexual exploitation of young people in care begins

A major police investigation has begun into the sexual exploitation of children and young people who have gone missing from care in Northern Ireland.

Twenty-two young people have been identified by police as possibly "at risk". It follows a PSNI review of cases where young people have gone missing from the care system over the last 18 months.

The health minister has said the abuse was on a scale not seen before in NI and compared it to recent high-profile court cases in Rochdale and Oxford.

Northern Ireland reporter Chris Page says a special meeting of Assembly members in Stormont has been called for Monday, to discuss the investigation.