AN INVESTIGATION into how Oxfordshire’s authorities failed to spot a child sex abuse ring could spark resignations, the county council leader warned last night.

Ian Hudspeth spoke out as a serious case review was launched to investigate whether social services and police could have done more to stop the sexual abuse of young girls by the predatory gang.

Mr Hudspeth said the review would be “open and transparent” and its findings would implemented by County Hall.

Five of the six victims were in the care of social services at the time of the abuse, with several repeatedly going missing, and the sixth was known to the team.

The Old Bailey trial heard social workers were aware of under age girls in their care having sex with Asian men as well as spotting signs of abuse.

Mr Hudspeth said: “Obviously we have been going through our records and we would make sure that if there was anything inappropriate we will act upon it.

“However, we will wait for the case review to fully go through everything to make sure the correct procedures were in place and, if not, we will act on the recommendations coming forward.”

He added: “The independent serious cause review will be open and transparent and we will talk to everybody involved and will publish all the findings and act open those findings. “We will put in place all the relevant recommendations.”

Mr Hudspeth said the council has been working on strengthening the safeguarding of young people for the past few years as a result of Operation Bullfinch. He said: “There is an awful lot we have already put in place as a direct result of being aware of this criminality and we are working closely with the police to make sure that this sort of action cannot occur in Oxfordshire again. “I am content the action we have taken improves everything but we are always willing to listen and learn.”

The council has trained 2,500 people from various agencies to spot the early signs of grooming.

At the end of last year it also launched Kingfisher, which brought together social and police workers to join forces to combat child sex exploitation. The independent serious case review will be led by barrister and child abuse prevention expert David Spicer and is expected to be published within six months.

County council Labour leader Liz Brighouse welcomed Kingfisher but said it was up to every member of society to stand up to sexual abuse of children.

She added: “Out of the serious case review I am hoping will come different processes, but whatever comes up from the review we will be asking for those issues to be addressed.”

Asked if officers should lose their jobs if the serious case review’s findings are damning, she said: “Of course they should. If there has been dereliction of duty which is not about hindsight but something else, then yes of course.”

Green leader David Williams said: “We will wait for the serious case review and see what recommendations come forward and comment at that stage.

“There were failings in the police and social services and they have got to be addressed and new systems put in place to make sure this never happens again.”

Liberal Democrat leader Zoé Patrick did not return calls requesting an interview.

Last night Oxfordshire County Council chief executive Joanna Simons refused to be interviewed by the Oxford Mail.

The county council also refused to answer further questions about its use of care homes and Nanford Guest House for vulnerable people.

The Oxford Mail asked why people under the council’s care were sent to the institutions even after concerns were raised about the running of the care homes and the cleanliness of the guest house.