Auckland police may set up incest team
PA Auckland The police in Auckland may set up a trained group to help sexually abused children, says a psychologist and Child Sexual Abuse Coordinating Committee member, Mr Steven Hayns. The newly formed committee has clarified the aims of a working party with members from statutory and voluntary welfare groups formed to fight incest and child sexual in Auckland.
Mr Hayns said the police were looking at the possibility of creating a small team to be on call to deal with cases of incest. The group should comprise both men and women who would conduct the first interview with the child in the presence of a mental health professional and the non 7 offending par-
ent. ■ • The working party would look at ways of identifying sexually abused children, Mr Hayns said. “We may approach the Education Department to discuss development of a protocol for teachers in the referral of abused children.”
The working party would also consider ways of separating the victim and the offender. “This would mean either■ removing the offender from the home voluntarily or by arrest or placing the child in a safe place away from the home. The mother might be advised to leave the house with the children and enter a refuge.” Mr Hayns,said that both the police and the Social Welfare Department should be notified within 24 hours
of any complaint. The working party would also study ways of changing, legislation linked with abuse. “We would like to see sexual abuse cases dealt with in the Family Court, with an advocate for the child,” he said.
Mr Hayns said if the offender was found guilty the working party would like to see a judge issue a “treatment order,” which would commit the offender to therapy for a finite period. If it was successfully completed the offender would be discharged without penalty. Mr Haynes said the committee hoped to reduce the incidence of sexual abuse, which affected one in five girls and one in 10 boys by the time they were 16.
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Press, 14 June 1983, Page 14
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344Auckland police may set up incest team Press, 14 June 1983, Page 14
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