A lawyer fighting on behalf of girls abused during the Rotherham child grooming scandal has hit out at police for leaving some of the men responsible walking free on the streets.

David Greenwood represents 29 victims and insists South Yorkshire detectives have enough evidence to make arrests.

Mr Greenwood, who specialises in abuse cases, said: “Police took statements from about ten girls I represent, along with others.

“Around 30 suspects have been named and as far as I’m concerned there’s enough evidence to arrest at least some of them.

“Even if detectives cannot charge those responsible, they should at least question them and release them on bail.

“This would send a clear signal to women involved that something is being done and perhaps persuade more to come forward.”

He went on: “There have been serious failings by social workers. But more importantly, Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire ­police failed to act on information which could have led to the arrest of perpetrators.

“They missed clear opportunities to prevent the exploitation of dozens of girls. The victims we are dealing with feel incredibly let down by a system in which they now have very little trust.”
Enough evidence: Solicitor David Greenwood says South Yorkshire Police are still failing to arrest abusers

Mr Greenwood, of Switalskis solicitors in Wakefield, West Yorks, also fears that police do not have enough specially trained ­officers to handle the cases.

He said: “Women tell me they are being questioned by male ­officers when they would prefer to see a female.

“And some officers are obviously not trained in dealing with such cases. It’s imperative the victims feel they are protected.”

This month Mr Green­wood lodged complaints that ­police actually ­dissuaded some ­alleged victims from reporting abuse in the ­early 2000s.

He said: “We have three cases of women who say they were put off giving statements about rape and assault while they were on their way to the police station.

“One said an officer pulled a ­police car over and warned her about reprisals from her attackers if she made a statement.

"Another victim was asked by an officer if she really wanted to disturb the police doctor on a Sunday afternoon.”

A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police said today: “A number of investigations into­ ­historical sexual offences in Rotherham are ongoing.

“These are large-scale investigations and are very much live.

“We would be compromising those ­investigations if we were to provide any details at this stage.”