Health Minister Edwin Poots has confirmed that Northern Ireland Police have opened a probe into a major sexual exploitation of children and young people in care homes.

Poots said that the sexual abuse of children in care was on a scale not seen before in Northern Ireland. He added that the police had identified a group of 22 potential victims.

Speaking on the topic, the Minister said, “As part of this review, we have identified a group of 22 young people who may be at risk from child sexual exploitation and are seeking to identify those who may have committed crimes against them.”

The prove follows a PSNI review of cases in which many young people been found missing from the care system over the past one and half year period.

Investigators believe that some older men had been targeting vulnerable younger people with the intention to sexually exploit them. The young people are thought to have exploited outside care homes.

Justice Committee Chairman Paul Givan described the incidents of child sexual exploitation as “gravely disturbing,” and stressed on the need to bring the offenders to justice.