Social services bosses in Leicestershire will review the way they look to protect children from sexual exploitation following the Rotherham abuse scandal.
Officials at the Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Board are to look again at their practices in the light of a damning report showing the authorities in the South Yorkshire town had not listened to young women who were groomed and abused.
Leicestershire County Council's cabinet member for children and family services councillor Ivan Ould confirmed the review after being asked for reassurances that the events uncovered in Rotherham had not been happening here too.
He said: "I have sought specific assurance regarding the experience of our children in care and the safeguarding of the wider children's population.
"We can never be complacent about the steps we take to protect children from harm and so, even though I am confident about the quality of our services, I will continue to challenge and seek re-assurance from the (social services) department about its work."
It emerged 1,400 young women were abused in Rotherham and the police and the council failed to act.
The safeguarding review in Leicestershire comes as police and crime commissioner Sir Clive Loader ordered a re-examination of child sexual abuse allegations dating back some 25 years.
Coun Ould did say a new unit had been set up with police and council staff to share information and resources to protect children from abuse.
In Rotherham it was established children were coming into contact with their abusers through the taxi trade and UKIP politicians have raised concerns about the risks here.
UKIP county councillor David Sprason has asked Coun Ould what steps have been taken to make sure young girls were never transported in taxis alone.
He also asked what steps had been taken beyond the required CRB checks of all drivers employed to transport youngsters.
Coun Ould said: "Female drivers and escorts are provided by the council where vulnerability is identified through risk assessment."
He said there were procedures in place for both girls and boys."
He said the safeguarding board last year launched a campaign to help parents and children spot the signs of abuse. A second phase of the campaign is focusing on businesses including taxi firms.
UKIP parliamentary candidate for Harborough Clive Langley is a former foster-parent who looked after children in the county's care.
He said: "The county council should make sure it always uses women drivers or at least has a chaperone but it doesn't do that because of the cost.
"I would like a full public enquiry into the actions of the local authorities and the police in Leicestershire in relation to concerns many of our citizens have following the scandal over child abuse in Rotherham and Rochdale.
"We must be certain that this type of thing has not gone on in Leicestershire in the past , nor continues to this day."
