A major new three-part drama about the Rochdale paedophile scandal is in the pipeline at the BBC.

Many of the details of the project are under wraps, but it is expected to dramatise the gradual uncovering of the sex crimes and subsequent convictions of a gang of nine men operating in the Greater Manchester town in 2008 and 2009.

Most of the men were of British Pakistani origin, and all the victims were under-age white British girls. There were accusations that the authorities had failed to investigate thoroughly due to a fear of being accused of racism.

In March 2015, following the publication of an internal report, the assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police issued an apology to victims of the scandal, saying “mistakes were made”.

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