UPDATE: Five teens arrested in Opotiki for sexual offences

FILE

UPDATE:
Opotiki College's Board of Trustee's chairman Fred Cookson has released a statement saying the health and safety of students was the school's top priority.

"The Board considers any situation where there is a risk to the health and safety of our students to be very serious

"Police have been investigating allegations involving a very small number of students. There is no suggestion of the alleged behaviour happening at the school or of any staff members being involved," the statement read.

He said the school was co-operating with police in the matter and would not be making any further comment while the judicial process progressed.

"Our priority now, as always, is to make sure that our students are being well looked after and that they are able to continue their day to day education without any undue stress or interruption. We know that parents are also focused on this.

"We are being supported by the Ministry of Education to help make sure this happens."

EARLIER:
Bay of Plenty Police have today arrested and charged five young men as part of an ongoing investigation into sexual allegations in Opotiki.

The men, aged between 17 and 18, have been charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a young person under 16, and will appear in the Opotiki District Court on December 3.

A police inquiry was launched in September after claims surfaced involving junior girls and senior boys from Opotiki College.

While the men have links to Opotiki College, Detective Inspector Mark Loper said there was no information to suggest the alleged offending occurred at the school, or that any school staff were involved.

"This has been a very thorough and complex inquiry, and would like to acknowledge the support of the local community and thank them for their patience as we have worked methodically through the process to get us to this point," Mr Loper said.

"While we have made arrests today, there is still a long way to go in the inquiry, and we will be continuing to support those who have come forward and their families as we work through the judicial process.

"We are also mindful that there has been significant media interest in this investigation," Mr Loper said.

"But, as we have said all along, our priority has been the well being of the young people who have raised these concerns with us, and we again appeal to the media to exercise discretion and please respect their privacy, while considering the additional stress that this attention has placed on them and their families."

Opotiki mayor John Forbes previously expressed frustration at not being informed by police about the allegations involving students.

"I've got a bit grumpy with police for not keeping us informed but they say they're sensitive matters," Mr Forbes said.

At the time of fresh allegations arising last month, Opotiki College acting head Bruce Dale said he was not able to comment because the allegations related to incidents that allegedly occurred outside school hours.

Ministry of Education's head of sector enablement Katrina Casey said officials were in regular contact with school management to make sure the police investigation wasn't disrupting day-to-day routines at the school and to offer any extra assistance if needed.