AN urgent investigation into whether public officials sought to cover up the extent of the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal has been called for by MPs.

A Home Affairs Select Committee report said a former researcher employed by Rotherham Borough Council claimed an unknown person gained access to her office and stole files set to be passed to the Home Office detailing failures in tackling child sexual exploitation.

The group of MPs wants "a full, transparent and urgent" inquiry and has called on the Home Office to do "everything in its power" to locate any missing files in its possession relating to child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and other places.

The committee is also proposing introducing powers to recall the police and crime commissioners (PCCs) after South Yorkshire PCC Shaun Wright initially refused to resign despite his clear links to the failures exposed at Rotherham Borough Council, after a report outlined how at least 1,400 children suffered abuse in the town from 1997 to 2003.