A CAMPAIGNING Keighley mum is demanding a public inquiry into what she describes as years of failure to investigate child sex grooming crimes committed in the town.

Angela Sinfield, from Ingrow, says she wants the links between child sexual exploitation and drugs to be exposed, saying the historical abuse girls have suffered has destroyed local families.

She added: "We told agencies of the most serious crimes against children and we were told there was nothing anyone could do.

"Families didn't have to go through that.

"I want a public inquiry into why agencies in Bradford failed my community.

"Girls have been trafficked around the country by men involved in organised crime. If we seriously want to tackle this problem, then we need to sort the drugs in our community. It's drugs that are the backbone of this type of crime. Deal with one problem, then you'll crack the other."

Mrs Sinfield added: "While grooming is seen as a race crime, the most vulnerable children are ignored.

"This is happening to children from every section of our community and I'm not standing for the problem being exploited by the far right. My grandkids are Asian and Muslim. Being racist isn't helping the problem."

Mrs Sinfield, a former Labour district councillor for Keighley West, claims this type of crime could have been stopped years ago if the Government had acted on reports showing children were being groomed for sex all over the UK.

She said people responsible for protecting children in Keighley have not been held accountable for their failings.

"We need an inquiry to look at why evidence of this appalling abuse was ignored and suppressed," she added. "Unlike any other town, no one can say they didn't know about grooming in Keighley.

"We need to stop children being sexually exploited. I walk around Keighley and I still see the tell-tale signs. The problem hasn't gone away – if anything, it's worse."

Mrs Sinfield has lodged a petition addressed to the UK Home Secretary on the Change.org website.

This calls for the Home Office to initiate a public inquiry into child sex exploitation in Bradford district between 1995 and 2016.

People can visit change.org/p/rt-hon-theresa-may-mp-act-now-demand-action-on-child-sex-exploitation-today to sign it.

Keighley town councillor, Michael Westerman, said he fully supports Mrs Sinfield's action.

"I think every councillor should be backing this lady up," he added. "It does warrant a public inquiry and cost shouldn't come into it."

Mrs Sinfield said that on April 9, between noon and 3pm, she plans to launch a new organisation called Action Against Child Sexual Exploitation.

The focus of this group will be on creating safe houses, where victims of sexual grooming can be protected.

The launch, which will also include a chance to sign the petition, will be in Keighley town centre, though the exact location is still to be confirmed.