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A 13-year-old Mount Maunganui girl allegedly raped in her own home had to endure a two-hour return trip to Whakatane for a medical exam because of critical deficiencies in Tauranga's support services.
The Bay's top detective is now calling for help from doctors to address the problem. Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner, of Tauranga CIB, said the traumatised girl was forced to undergo the trip for specialist medical treatment and forensic examination because the only doctor dealing with sex attacks was unavailable.
Mr Turner said the number of sexual attacks reported to police so far this year - five in total - was "excessive". Police usually handled an average of one complaint a month, although that was a "fraction" of what was occurring.
Mr Turner believed even fewer victims were reporting sexual offending since Rape Crisis services ended with the closure of Lavender House last winter. The house provided facilities for evidence-gathering in a comfortable and safe environment. It also provided clothes and showers for victims when their clothing had been taken for evidence. "It's left a huge void for victims."
Mr Turner wants doctors to come forward to work a roster system to relieve the situation, particularly as the workload for one doctor was becoming excessive.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
