KEY POINTS:
Police say an attack on a Christchurch teenager that left him with titanium plates in his head is being actively investigated, rejecting complaints that it is not.
Timothy van Irsel was attacked by a gang of youths as he left a party in the suburb of Cashmere on October 29.
A bottle was smashed over his head as he tried to flee from his attackers, fracturing his skull.
The 16-year-old's mother, Phillipa van Irsel, complained today that police told her a week after the attack they were too busy to investigate the incident.
"We were virtually laughed at," Mrs van Irsel told National Radio.
"They were pretty rude, saying 'lady, get real, you won't hear anything for four to six weeks'," she said.
Mrs van Irsel said between 10 and 20 youths were involved in the attack and the family had given police several names and a car registration number to follow up.
She said she had been "gutted" by the police response.
Christchurch southern area police commander Inspector David Lawry said today police were at the scene of the teenager's assault before an ambulance arrived.
"Timothy was fully interviewed on October 31 and on November 14 he and his mother were contacted to let them know about progress on the file," Mr Lawry said.
A senior detective had been given the file and advised that a team should conduct further inquiries.
Unfortunately, Mr Lawry said, the team was diverted to work on the serious assault of a Christchurch builder who was found in a pool of blood on a footpath near his Mairehau suburb home on November 30.
Three youths aged 14, 16 and 17 had been arrested and charged with assaulting the builder.
"We are concerned about youth crime and it is always a priority," Mr Lawry said.
"This family has been spoken to but the reality is investigations do take time. We will be following this up as soon as possible."
- NZPA
