Vulnerable children in England are at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse because of failings by councils, the education watchdog has warned.

Ofsted said local authorities had been too slow in facing up to their responsibilities in preventing these crimes in their area.

Plans to tackle the problem at local level were "underdeveloped", while leadership was "frequently lacking".

The Local Government Association said the report was "uncomfortable reading".

The report - The sexual exploitation of children: it couldn't happen here, could it? - was commissioned by the chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw.

Sir Michael wanted to build a clearer picture of how well local authorities and partners were working to prevent child sexual exploitation, to offer protection to victims and to pursue abusers.

The research comes against a backdrop of allegations, convictions and resignations over organised child abuse and exploitation over sustained periods in locations including Rotherham, Rochdale, Oxford and Telford.

A report published by MPs on Tuesday into the Rotherham cases concluded the local authority had "failed" victims targeted in the town. It also questioned the performance of Ofsted itself.

Young people at risk

The Ofsted report concluded that "some professionals have simply failed to properly apply child protection processes to young people at risk of being sexually exploited".

It warned that it was "inherently dangerous for any child protection agency to assume that they need not worry about this type of child abuse because the stereotypical offender or victim profile does not match their own local demographics".

It said that, in too many instances, local safeguarding children's boards had shown poor leadership.

"They have failed to adequately challenge slow progress in developing both child sexual exploitation strategies and meaningful action plans," it said.

Ofsted inspectors found some councils had only begun to address the problem on a strategic basis within the past 12 months, despite statutory guidance being issued more than five years ago.

They also said there was poor information sharing between local authorities, police, health services and others, leading to an overall lack of understanding.

(bbc)