10 Dec 2013

Police admit more support for sex abuse victims needed

3:11 pm on 10 December 2013

Police Commissioner Peter Marshall concedes the force needs to improve support for victims of sexual abuse.

Police Commissioner Peter Marshall.

Police Commissioner Peter Marshall. Photo: RNZ

Police have released their first self-assessment, reviewing progress towards meeting targets following a Commission of Inquiry into police behaviour.

The inquiry was begun in 2004 to look at how police dealt with accusations of sexual assault by officers and their associates.

Mr Marshall has highlighted recent incidents, including the 'roast busters' case, where a group of Auckland young men had sex with young drunk women, some of them underage.

He says that while police have come a long way in the treatment and support of victims of sexual offending they still have work to do to improve.

Last year, the State Services Commission set areas for police to annually review until 2017, including leadership and change and lifting trust and confidence in complaint investigations.