No end in sight to abuse allegations

Anyone who hoped the conviction of former teacher James Parker and Daniel Taylor on child abuse charges, and the more recent allegations against James Brian Sanders, would bring an end to the shame and trauma of child sex abuse in the Far North is likely to be disappointed according to police.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin Burke, Northland's acting manager of criminal investigations, said last week that fresh allegations and reports of sexual abuse in Northland were beginning to flood in via police hotlines. Police believed convictions in a number of high-profile cases were giving victims, and others who were aware of abuse, the confidence they needed to come forward.

Detective Senior Sergeant Burke said two 0800 numbers set up during inquiries into James Parker, and now James Sanders, were yielding many calls from the public.

He could not detail those allegations, or say whether they were connected to recent or historical abuse, but all were being investigated.

Parker is serving preventive detention on more than 70 sexual abuse convictions, Taylor is due for sentence next week, and 65-year-old Sanders is yet to plead to 22 charges of indecent assault and two of unlawful sexual connection, involving seven female children. Eight of the indecent assault charges are representative, meaning that they cover more than one alleged offence.

Last week former Kaikohe Christian School principal Raymond George Melrose appeared in the Kaikohe District Court on 10 historical charges, including four of sodomising a boy aged 12 to 16.

"What we're seeing is whenever we get a good result [in court], it gives the community trust in the system," Detective Senior Sergeant Burke said.

Calls had begun to come after Parker pleaded guilty, from victims of sexual abuse who had seen the work the police and courts were doing.

"People have been ringing and even reporting about other cases. Police have managed to speak to those victims because they are seeing some action taking place that has given them sufficient confidence in the system," he said.

He acknowledged the support of partner agencies such as Child, Youth and Family and ACC in dealing with horrific cases of child sex abuse.

Meanwhile Te Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngati Kahu chief executive Anahera Herbert-Graves, who has led public demonstrations of intolerance of child abuse, and who was back outside the Kaitaia District Court last week while Sanders made his second appearance before the court, said abuse could exist where people turned a blind eye to it and protected the abuser. And while recent cases had focused on abuse in schools, churches and other organisations, the vast majority of offending was taking place in homes.

Ms Herbert-Graves said drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, multiple partners, broken families and "artificial" tikanga, or people being falsely told not to discuss sexual abuse cases for cultural reasons, were among the factors that allowed such crimes to be committed.

Police launched a dedicated freephone line (0800 586-366) as part of their investigations into Sanders. Anyone with any information that might help the investigation is urged to call that number, and is assured that all information will be accepted in strict confidence.

Detective Senior Sergeant Burke said the investigation was a complex and sensitive one, and police appreciated the patience of the public. "We have a team of dedicated specialist staff working on the case," he said. "This is a joint investigation with our partner agency Child, Youth and Family, which is providing specialist assistance for victims and their families."