Wairarapa: Speak up about child abuse

EVIDENCE: Detective Inspector Rod Drew said child abuse was well-documented.PHOTO/FILE

People who suspect child abuse in Wairarapa should speak up or the child could die, police warn.

More than 160 Wairarapa children were victims of child abuse in the year to June 30, 2013.

Child Youth and Family (CYF) received 1949 abuse notifications in Wairarapa during the financial year, 655 of which required further action.

Of these, 166 were found to be substantiated abuse cases - down from 216 the previous year.

The number of abuse notifications and substantiated cases had dropped from previous years.

The figures also reveal that 67 local children were in out of home care and protection placements on June 30 compared with 56 at the same time in 2012.

Meanwhile, 63 cases of substantiated abuse were identified in Wairarapa in the three months to September 30 last year.

National criminal investigations manager Detective Superintendent Rod Drew, a former top policeman in Wairarapa, said child abuse was well-documented in New Zealand and "an absolute priority" for police.

"Child abuse happens across all aspects of society and ethnic groups, therefore all adults need to be responsible and speak up to protect children in their families and communities."

Every police district had specialist child protection staff dedicated to investigating and preventing child abuse and were usually working on a number of cases at any given time, he said.

Abuse continued to involve family members, partners and happened in community and social settings, Mr Drew said.

But awareness was improving and fewer people were turning a blind eye.

"Often the question is asked by those reporting 'What if I am wrong?' But what should be asked is 'What if I am right?'

"It is everyone's responsibility to report child abuse, too many people have failed to speak up when they are aware of or suspect abuse is happening and children have subsequently died."

Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Holden from the Wellington district child protection team said work done in Wairarapa was a joint agency approach.

"This approach focuses on identifying priorities and risks to children and alignment to national policies and processes which is enhanced by specialist training."

Children's Commissioner and Hawkes Bay paediatrician Russell Wills said the link between poverty and child abuse was "clear".

Admissions to hospital with inflicted injuries were 10 times more common for the poorest 10 per cent of children compared with the wealthiest 10 per cent.

But the pattern over the last five years showed increasing "societal intolerance" for violence towards women and children.

He credited the changes to developments like the "It's not OK" campaign, anti-smacking legislation and an increase in parents referring themselves for parenting programmes.

"You don't get major societal change quickly ... but I think those are promising early signs.

"In the end, what's going to make the biggest difference ... is changing attitudes."