AN INVESTIGATION has still not begun into Thames Valley Police (TVP) a month after the release of the Serious Case Review into Operation Bullfinch.

The operation investigated how Oxford girls were subjected to years of sexual abuse by a grooming gang.

Seven men were jailed in 2013 for a total of 95 years for raping, grooming and prostituting the girls between 2005 and 2011.

The Serious Case Review, published last month, criticised the force for not taking the victims seriously and not following up enough reports of abuse.

The review said there were 1,561 recorded police contacts with the girls but just 26 offences recorded.

Thames Valley Police referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) on February 26.

That was so the commission could investigate to see if any police officers or staff will be disciplined.

But the investigation has been delayed because the IPCC needed extra materials from TVP, which were only sent last month.

IPCC spokeswoman Joanna Irving said: “We received materials from TVP on March 23, which we are currently reviewing to assess our level of involvement.”

Andrew Smith, Labour parliamentary candidate for Oxford East, has been demanding an independent inquiry into the scandal.

That came after it was revealed nobody had been disciplined by either the police or Oxfordshire County Council.

A vigil was held in East Oxford last week by campaigners supporting his call.