Walsall Safeguarding Partnership (WSP) will not be publishing its review into the largest child sex abuse case investigated by West Midlands Police in order to protect the identity of the victims.

Some 21 people have been convicted for their part in the abuse of seven children, who were 12 years old or younger, in Walsall and Wolverhampton over nearly a decade ago.

WSP, which is responsible for safeguarding vulnerable children and adults in the area, carried out a serious case review but said it will not be published.

Independent chair of WSP, Sally Hodges, said: ‘While we appreciate this matter may be of public interest the partnership's overriding concern is for the children and young people that were involved in these horrific events.

'Our priority is to continue to provide them with the support, care and stability they require.'

Ms Hodges added that while the WSP was not publishing the review the lessons have been included in a new child sexual abuse strategy.

She said: ‘Although we will not be publishing the review in order to protect the identities of these children and young people it did lead directly to the development of a new child sexual abuse strategy for Walsall 2020 – 2023, which is a public document.

‘We are in the process of reviewing this strategy during 2023 and any learning from the recent court cases will be part of this review.'