KEY POINTS:
Police have been asked by the parents of a Year 9 boy subjected to alleged bullying at Hutt Valley High School to investigate whether the school committed abuse against their son through neglect.
Detective Sergeant Brendan Mears said yesterday that a formal complaint was laid on Friday, and police were assessing it.
He would not comment on the likelihood of further complaints.
The school has been beset with claims of bullying by other pupils, leading to investigations by police.
The formal complaint from the Year 9 boy's parents asks police to investigate whether the school neglected their son's needs by failing to provide a safe school, failing to properly investigate or report the initial assault, and allowing him to be repeatedly victimised.
It comes after revelations the boy was absent from school for two days last week without school officials alerting his parents.
The Education Review Office is carrying out a safety review of the school following allegations including assault, drug-taking, bullying, schoolyard sex and intimidation of teachers.
- NZPA