South Yorkshire's Police Commissioner has refused to resign over the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal.
Shaun Wright is facing calls to stand down, including by his own Labour Party, in the wake of a damning report which revealed more than 1,400 children were victims of abuse there between 1997 and 2013.
It detailed examples of 11-year-olds being gang raped and children being forced to watch violent sex abuse while being threatened that they would be next.
Mr Wright was a Labour councillor for Rotherham until he was elected Police Commissioner in 2012, and was in charge of children's services from 2005 to 2010.
Rotherham Council leader Roger Stone stood down in the wake of the report But Mr Wright told Sky News he was "completely astonished" at the abuse, and said he had been unaware of the scale of the problem.
He said: "I take my share of the responsibility. There was systemic failure. I only wish that I knew more at the time.
"If I knew then what I know now then clearly more could have been done.
"I do have regrets I wasn't more aware of the issue at the time."
He claimed information was not "escalated up" to the political level or senior managers.
Mr Wright said: "I am completely astonished by the scale of the issue that's been identified."
But Colin Ross, the leader of the Lib Dem group on Sheffield City Council, said it is "difficult to see how local people can have confidence in him to continue as our Police and Crime Commissioner".
A Labour spokesperson said: "The report into child abuse in Rotherham was devastating in its findings. Vulnerable children were repeatedly abused and then let down.
Alexis Jay's highly critical report detailed "appalling" abuse "In the light of this report, it is appropriate that South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright should step down."
The leader of Rotherham Council, Roger Stone, stepped down with immediate effect following the publication of the report.
The council has apologised for its failings but confirmed no staff will face disciplinary action.
South Yorkshire Police also issued an apology but it too revealed that no officers have been disciplined.
Chief Superintendent Jason Harwin, police district commander for Rotherham, said no officers had faced disciplinary action but added: "A number of individuals that were in the service then are no longer in the service.
"Clearly we have failed on this occasion. We know that but we need to understand understand what we need to do next."
"If people have done things they shouldn't have done they should be held to account."
A lawyer who represents some of the victims has told Sky News they intend to take legal action against the authorities.
Solicitor David Greenwood said he was "appalled" by what he called a "systematic failure".
He added that some of the girls involved have displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and will need "a lot of input to get their lives back on track".
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