Police pay 'a social visit' to Gloriavale

Members of the Gloriavale community. Photo / Mark Mitchell

West Coast police area commander Inspector John Canning paid a courtesy visit to the Gloriavale Christian Community yesterday, as the police and national media turned up the heat on the reclusive 500-strong community.

Earlier this week the police urged those who had left Gloriavale to step forward with any relevant information about "certain allegations," previously aired on television, or anything else relating to Gloriavale.

At least one former member of the community - a woman known only as Julia, who made her experience known on national television last week - spoke to police on Tuesday, TV3's Campbell Live reported.

Mr Canning told the Greymouth Star his presence at Gloriavale was as a courtesy to make himself known, describing it as "a social visit".

It appeared to be "business as usual" at the community, he said.

To his knowledge, at this point nothing further had yet emerged to assist police, he said.

Meanwhile, police have now set up a freephone number (0800 400 800) for people who would like to speak to police in relation to Gloriavale.

-Greymouth Star