Sir Michael Wilshaw , chief inspector of schools and children ’ s services , said saving youngsters from exploitation required ‘ political and moral courage ' Politicians were yesterday warned they should never ignore sex crimes against children out of a misguided fear of being called racist . Sir Michael Wilshaw , chief inspector of schools and children ’ s services , said saving youngsters from exploitation required ‘ political and moral courage ’ on the part of local leaders . ‘ They must never allow misguided beliefs about the impact for certain ethnic and cultural groups to get in the way of confronting this horrific abuse wherever it occurs , ’ he added . His warning came amid the row over the failure of social workers , politicians or police to act against gangs of mostly Pakistani men who exploited hundreds of children in Rotherham and Oxford . An inquiry last month said Rotherham councillors shied away from the issue for fear of being accused of disturbing ‘ community cohesion ’ . It added : ‘ By failing to take action against the Pakistani heritage male perpetrators of child sexual exploitation in the borough , the council has inadvertently fuelled the far-Right. ’ Last week an inquiry into a similar scandal in Oxford , carried out by the head of the local safeguarding board , said there was ‘ no evidence of any agency not acting when they should have done because of racial sensitivities ’ . But the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner accused it of ‘ pulling its punches ’ . Sir Michael ’ s warning was contained in an Ofsted report that found most local councils charged with looking after children ’ s safety are failing at the job . Only ten out of 43 inspected over the course of a year were found to give a good standard of care and protection . Criticised : Rotherham 's director of children 's services between 2008 and 2014 Joyce Thacker ( left ) and former Rotherham Council leader Roger Stone ( right ) were both criticised for their inaction over the scandal . Sir Michael said youngsters who go missing from children ’ s homes while in council care are disproportionately at risk of abuse but social workers in some areas still fail to take notice of them . He added : ‘ We found children and young people who had been missing were either not having an interview on their return or having one that was of poor quality . 'There was no clear understanding of why children had gone missing . ’
Sir Michael Wilshaw said ‘ political and moral courage ’ is needed in future . Comment: Cases involved mostly Pakistani gangs exploiting hundreds of children . Inquiry last month said Rotherham councillors shied away from the issue .