Rotherham child abuse: A year since the Jay Report

It has been a year since a report found at least 1,400 children were subjected to appalling sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Professor Alexis Jay's report detailed how girls as young as 11 were raped, trafficked, abducted, beaten, and intimidated, predominantly by men of Pakistani-heritage.

It said there had been "blatant" collective failures by the council's leadership, a failure by South Yorkshire Police to prioritise the issue and said senior managers had "underplayed" the scale of the problem.

The report prompted a raft of resignations and further inquiries, one of which led to the council being taken over by government-appointed commissioners.

But, 12 months on, BBC News asked those most closely involved what has changed in Rotherham?

The victims

Jessica, not her real name, said she was first abused when she aged just 12.

Since the report was published, she believes there has been "real change" in the way the authorities deal with victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE).

"We're now being listened to, there's more support in place and survivors and their families are now on board and helping agencies shape services," she said.

"We're telling them what we need and what's going to help us move forward."

However, she said more needed to be done and called for "mandatory education" for children on the dangers of grooming and increased funding for police forces.

"I know a lot of people find it difficult to trust the authorities but I do think things are really changing now," she continued.

"I think the way people look at abuse is changing and I think the authorities recognise that it's not the victim's fault, it's not the parents' fault and that the perpetrators are the ones to blame."

Rotherham Council

In a video message posted on Rotherham Council's website, council leader Chris Read said: "We've begun to make the changes that we need and we are making progress. We've been listening and we are acting.

"Our child sexual exploitation team has been rebuilt and we're working more closely than ever with our partners to deliver the services that people need and deserve.

"We are rebuilding our council so it can't fail so badly ever again."

Ian Thomas was appointed director of children's services at the council in January, following the resignation of Joyce Thacker.

"When you look at where we've come in the last few months it's been a long way, especially when you look at the amount of services in place now for victims and survivors," he said.

"We're supporting around 300 victims and survivors of CSE through investing over half a million pounds.

"But, let me be very, very clear - we still have a long way to go."

Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner

Dr Alan Billings was elected as South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in October 2014 following the resignation of Shaun Wright.

Since then he has set up a "Victims, Survivors and Families panel" to allow those affected by CSE in Rotherham to discuss their experiences with officers.

In June, he also appointed Prof John Drew to lead an independent review of South Yorkshire Police's handling of CSE reports.

"I think very few of us understood the nature of grooming, the police ought to have done, but I don't think we did," he said.

"One of the things that has changed is that we do now recognise what grooming is.

"It's not about girls who are out of control, who are disrespectful of authority, who are incorrigible in their behaviour and have to be treated in that way - it's about young people who are victims.

"We understand that now and that's been a huge shift in understanding and that's very important."

Since his appointment 62 additional officers had been put to work in the Public Protection Unit.

Ch Supt Jason Harwin, Rotherham District Commander

Since the report's publication, Ch Supt Jason Harwin said South Yorkshire Police now "understands the needs and support required" by victims.

He said Dr Billings' panel was helping officers understand "what we need to do differently".

"I've got a responsibility to make sure I do everything and my staff do everything to make sure they feel [victims] have got the confidence to come forward and, when they do, they are treated with respect, with dignity and, ultimately, helped to get through the challenge that they face," he said.

Since August 2014, eight men have been charged with more than 100 offences as part of Operation Clover, the force's investigation into CSE in Rotherham.

Mr Harwin said: "The last 12 months have been horrific for Rotherham, particularly for the victims and survivors, and it has sent shockwaves through the community.

"The important thing that has been changing in the past 12 months is that communities know that they have got a key part to play in making sure we identify those responsible and, with the work we've been doing around education and increasing awareness, we're seeing now more information coming forward to police.

"We're committed to doing everything we can to bring these people to justice and we are bringing people to justice."

Prof Alexis Jay

Report author Prof Jay said: "I hope that my report has contributed to significant awareness-raising, both by the public and professionals and that it should not be dismissed as scarcely a crime but that it is a very, very serious crime and should be treated as such.

"My report did bring child sexual exploitation sharply in to the public domain and I would like to think of that as an achievement, but there are lots of other people who have been working hard to try to get recognition for it. I think that's probably the most important aspect.

"Secondly, I would say the support for known victims and survivors has had more investment put in to it, but I do not think it is there yet in terms of meeting their needs.

"We simply do not know what the volume of demand for this kind of therapeutic help will be, but it's increased significantly in the last year so that's important as well that more money has been made available to provide this kind of support to those who so desperately need it."