Elderly woman and two others facing 72 charges after South Auckland historic sex and physical abuse investigation

Three people have been charged. Photo / 123rf

Police have filed more than 70 charges against three people following an investigation into allegations of historical sexual and physical offending committed by a contracted care provider in Auckland.

Counties Manukau Criminal Investigation Branch began investigating after Oranga Tamariki notified police in June 2021 around matters of concern with a provider operating within the wider south Auckland region.

Detective inspector Shaun Vickers said investigators working on Operation Annalise have since spoken with more than 500 people.

Those males were identified as having been placed with the provider between 2002 and 2021, many of whom are now adults.

Vickers said in recent days police located and arrested the three people within the Counties Manukau District.

“We have filed a total of 72 charges against all three at this stage of our inquiries.”

He said those charged are a 72-year-old woman, a 33-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man.

The 72-year-old has been summonsed on 43 charges, relating to 12 victims, those charges include 19 sexual offences, nine ill-treatment offences and seven assault offences, police said.

The 33-year-old woman is facing 17 charges, relating to seven victims, those charges include 11 sexual offences and two ill treatment offences.

And the 33-year-old man is facing 12 charges, relating to eight victims, those charges include eight assault offences and two ill treatment offences.

The man was due to appear in the Manukau District Court this afternoon.

The two women are expected to appear in the Pukekohe District Court on February 21 and 22 respectively.

As matters are before the Court, police said they were limited in further comment around the alleged offending or the provider itself.

“Our investigation team has been ensuring welfare is in place for those we have been speaking to, and we will continue to ensure there is appropriate support available moving forward,” Vickers said.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and further arrests or charges cannot be ruled out.

”Police are encouraging anyone who might have information that may assist the investigation further to get in contact with us, or if they wish to discuss any matters relating to this offending.”