Northland police shortage delays sex crime investigations

Investigations into sex crime complaints in Northland are being delayed because of a police staff shortage.

Northland police have an allocation of 268 police officers, but have 15 vacant positions.

Acting Northland police chief Inspector Mike Rusbatch said the shortage was not a crisis, but was a concern.

He said 30 files of alleged sex offences were still to be investigated at the Kaikohe police station, which was three staff short. Police had assessed all of the files to ensure that any alleged victims were not in danger.