Serious child assault cases on decline

Former Gisborne CIB head Detective Inspector Craig Scott.

FORMER head of the Gisborne CIB Craig Scott points to the declining number of serious child assault cases nationally and hopes New Zealand has turned a corner with the serious problem.

Detective Inspector Scott has been based in Wellington as part of the National Criminal Investigation Group since his move from Gisborne last year. He was the CIB head here for 15 years before his promotion to the capital.

“Good work is being done by a lot of agencies around the country, including police, on bringing the child abuse rate down,” he said.

National statistics show a drop from 168 assault-related child hospitalisations in 2000 to 145 cases of it in 2014.

“The child abuse problem in New Zealand is inextricably part of the whole family violence problem,” Det Inspector Scott said.

“A child being assaulted can be an indictor of further violence against other family members.”

He said past behaviour was one of the best guides to future behaviour.

“Past violence to a partner or their children is probably the best risk indicator and that is why police brought in the Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme (FVIDS).

“It allows police to disclose personal information to a third party where there is serious threat to safety from family violence.”

Det Inspector Scott said education can be a part of solving the child abuse problem.

“You can edcuate a parent about the risks of sleeping next to their baby in bed. But as soon as they start drinking and taking drugs that awareness can go out the window.”

Det Inspector Scott said parents must take responsibility for their children.

“Parents need to have their children’s welfare as the major priority in their life. However, there are people who do have issues and need support.

“Also those agencies cannot be there 24/7 so people with issues need their whanau and friends to be supportive.”

He encourages people who know about cases of child abuse or family violence in general to come forward.

“It’s better that they not wait till things get to the point where police need to be called. If you see things are wrong then encourage or take the person affected to an agency for help.”

Contact police directly or the CrimeStoppers number (0800 555 111) if you think a family needs support.