2. PAUL QUINN (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
What steps are being taken in the Wellington police district to improve the investigation of child abuse and the care and support provided to victims?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) Link to this
I am pleased to report that today I opened the country’s fourth multi-agency centre, which will provide one-stop access to services for child abuse victims and improve the investigation of abuse allegations. The Wellington Police District accounts for about 12 percent of all child abuse investigations nationally, with more than 8,000 family violence reports last year. The new centre in Pētone, which is called Koru House, is a joint initiative by the police, Child, Youth and Family, and the Hutt Valley District Health Board. It follows the establishment of similar centres in Auckland City, Counties-Manukau, and Tauranga. It illustrates this Government’s commitment to putting victims back at the heart of the justice sector.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The centre will provide a safe and supportive environment where child victims can interact with a team of police, Child, Youth and Family, and health professionals. This will include specialised medical, forensic, and psychological services. It will also provide a vital link from those agencies back to the many community groups that work so hard to provide ongoing support to the victims. When a child’s life is marred by the horror of abuse or violence, the child must have somewhere to go and someone whom they can turn to for help. The centre will help to ensure that they receive a caring, compassionate, speedy, and professional response.