The Police Commissioner says it's not through a lack of action or interest that the inquiry into a group of Auckland youths boasting online about sex with young girls has not progressed.
Peter Marshall told Morning Report a formal complaint made two years ago has been thoroughly investigated and dealt with, but another three girls who reported assaults since then don't want to make formal complaints.
He said the parents of two of the young women did not want their daughters to go through the police process and asked for space to deal with what had happened.
Police Commissioner Peter Marshall. Photo: RNZ
Questions continue to be raised over the way the police investigated complaints about the group, with Police Minister Anne Tolley asking the Independent Police Conduct Authority to assess how the process has been handled.
But Mr Marshall says they can't go further without any more formal complaints.
Review urged
Some legal specialists say the way victims of sexual assault are treated in the justice system needs to be reviewed, so victims can feel confident about coming forward.
Police are facing scrutiny for the way they have investigated teenage girls' complaints of sexual assault in West Auckland; including allegations of victim-blaming by officers.
Now academics say victims' treatment in court also needs to be reviewed.
The Law Commission was asked in 2010 to investigate and make recommendations for changing the way sexual assault victims are treated in the court system.
But the commission was told last year to drop the research and so no final report was done.
Associate Professor in Criminology at Victoria University Jan Jordan says the process of cross-examining needs to change because it is too gruelling and can revictimise complainants.
Victims not 'encouraged to come forward'
An advocate for social justice says improvements need to be made to police or legal systems to encourage victims of rape and sexual assault to come forward.
Marama Davidson of the women's group, Te Wharepora Hou, says the single formal complaint made against the Roast Busters group of shows how the systems inspire very little confidence in assault victims.
"Whether it's problems with the police system or with the legal system, it certainly doesn't inspire courage or confidence in any young person, or any person, who has suffered from any form of sexual violence."
