Police Probing 135 New Sex Abuse Claims

The Sky News
November 13, 2013

http://www.skynews.com.au/national/article.aspx?id=924119


More than 100 new allegations of sexual abuse have been referred to Victorian police as a result of the state's parliamentary inquiry into child abuse.

The final report of the inquiry says that as of November 6, 135 matters had been referred to the Sano task force, established by police to follow up specific allegations of child abuse raised during the inquiry.

The report says more referrals are expected as a review of submissions made to the inquiry continued.

'As could be expected, the establishment of the inquiry and the task force ... encouraged more victims to report abuse to the police,' the report says.

Task force members attended all hearings, liaised with witnesses, gave assistance when required and in some cases the committee arranged for police to seek further information or clarification.

Victoria Police made the startling accusation during the inquiry that the Catholic Church destroyed evidence, shielded paedophile clergy members and put its own image ahead of the needs of victims.

In its response, the church acknowledged past failures but said it was not aware of a single example of a clergy authority not co-operating with police.

In a statement, police said they were pleased the issues raised by the government's inquiry into child abuse had been given the prominence and scrutiny they demanded.

However, officers were still reading the report's recommendations and would comment in more detail once they had time to reflect on the findings, it said.

The final report noted Victoria Police had changed the way it dealt with victims of sexual abuse.

The committee found the approach adopted by police towards victims was vitally important because it could increase the rate of reporting and conviction and reduce the attrition rate.

Key recommendations from the inquiry include making the concealment of sexual abuse a crime, creating the criminal offence of grooming, and making people in positions of authority criminally responsible for placing children at risk of harm by other individuals.

It also recommends an independent statutory body be established to monitor and oversee the handling of sexual abuse allegations within government, non-government and religious organisations.