The child sexual exploitation revelations from Rotherham and from Oxfordshire over the last few weeks have been truly horrific and should give pause to all of us involved in public services.

Clearly there have been significant failings with tragic consequences. It’s quite right that people should be held to account for these failings and that measures should be taken to address them.

Thus we see commissioners being appointed to run the council in Rotherham and the Government consulting on measures to introduce criminal liability for those who wilfully neglect children at risk of abuse.