A major police investigation has uncovered cases where children were allegedly sexually and physically abused after initially going to police with complaints of abuse, RNZ can reveal.
The cases are among 11 where police found further offending may have occurred after an initial report. The cases were identified as part of re-investigations of more than 50 child protection and adult sexual assault files.
HELP Auckland said it was “deeply disturbing that children were left unprotected after reports of sexual abuse that had been made to police were not fully investigated”.
The re-investigations, under Operation Hark, began after concerns were raised in May about Detective Inspector Kevan Verry’s handling of a historical sexual abuse case in Northland that had sat for a couple of years with no action.
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In a statement to RNZ this week, Detective Superintendent Keith Borrell said the re-investigation phase had identified 11 cases where further alleged offending occurred after the initial report to police.
“This is a concerning finding from the wider Operation Hark response. Victims have every right to expect their reports will be thoroughly investigated, and it is deeply troubling that further harm may have occurred in some instances after that first report was made.
“At every stage of engagement, we have worked to ensure victims have access to appropriate support services and welfare assistance.”
RNZ understands the 11 cases include allegations of sexual and physical abuse against children.
Asked to comment on the revelation, Borrell initially said in a statement late on Wednesday evening that police “note there are further questions around additional offending identified since an initial report was made”.
“Given there are active criminal investigations underway, we are limited in further comment at this stage.”
Detective Superintendent Keith Borrell
RNZ / Robin Martin
Pressed further, Borrell said on Friday that while police were limited in what comment they can make, “we can confirm that the 11 cases referenced include child protection matters, as well as both adult and child sexual assault matters”.
HELP Auckland executive director Kathryn McPhillips, who is on an external advisory panel for Operation Hark, told RNZ it was “deeply disturbing that children were left unprotected after reports of sexual abuse that had been made to Police were not fully investigated”.
“In any situation where abuse occurs, we know that when an abuser continues to have access to a child, that the child may be abused again, potentially hundreds of times. This is why it is critical that every report to Police of sexual abuse is thoroughly investigated at the time.
“What matters now is that these survivors and their families are able to get the specialist support they need, when they need it, for as long as they need it. It is also important that those people responsible for the abuse are held to account and required to undergo rehabilitation, as this is the way to stop them hurting more children.”
The organisation welcomed the current follow-up police investigation and for the police to pursue prosecutions wherever possible.
“Importantly, we must ensure this cannot happen again. Police must review and address the failures that allowed these reports to go without full investigation, despite the existing quality assurance processes.
“It is crucial that wider issues are accounted for openly and honestly, and robust improvements are put in place.”
The 57 cases
Borrell said of the 57 cases, nine cases were yet to be formally resolved.
To date, two men have been charged.
One is a 59-year-old Far North man who has appeared in the Kaitaia District Court facing two charges of indecent assault on a girl under 12 years of age, and one of indecent assault on a girl aged between 12 and 16. The charges relate to one complainant.
The other is a 53-year-old Far North man who has appeared in the Kaikohe District Court facing six charges of unlawful sexual connection, 10 of indecent assault on a girl, and one charge of attempted rape. The charges relate to alleged historical offending against two victims.
Further prosecutions are anticipated in the coming weeks, with police initiating extradition proceedings in three cases involving suspects believed to be living overseas.
Borrell said 43 cases had been filed with no prosecution.
“In some cases, victims advised they did not wish to proceed further with their complaint. Given these matters involve historical allegations, we acknowledge and respect their decisions.
“However, we have made it clear that they can return to police at any time should they wish to revisit their complaint, and we will carefully reconsider the matter.”
Of the 57 cases, 42 relate to offending against children – 28 involve allegations of physical abuse and 14 allegations of sexual abuse.
Twelve of the cases relate to adult sexual assault, where complainants were aged 18 years or older at the time of reporting.
RNZ earlier revealed police were also reviewing their systems used to manage child protection and sexual assault cases and had established an external advisory group to provide oversight and assurance.
Borrell said this week the review, being led by an “experienced police leader” supported by a “multidisciplinary working group”, remained ongoing.
“Police take their obligations to victims extremely seriously. This working group continues to examine what contributed to this situation and identify opportunities to strengthen our adult sexual assault and child protection systems, processes, and partnerships to help prevent this occurring again.
“This work remains underway and we expect the review to be completed by late October.”