Reopened police files include cases where children may have been left at risk

Listen live: Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money on Checkpoint around 5.10pm

Forty child protection complaints that have been reopened amid concerns about the quality of the investigations include cases of children who may have been left in circumstances where there was risk to their welfare, RNZ can reveal.

The Children's Commissioner says if that is the case, it is "deeply concerning", while the Chief Victim's Advisor says she was "visceral" when police told her there was a possibility that children were left at risk.

"This has got to be one of the worst things I can remember in terms of risk and ongoing risk to children," advisor Ruth Money said.

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Oranga Tamariki says it is working with police to "understand the potential impacts" and police say they're unable to rule out that alleged offenders had not reoffended while the cases had been shelved.

Police earlier told RNZ 54 cases of child protection complaints and adult sexual assaults had been reopened.

It came after concerns were raised in May this year about a senior officer's handling of a historical sexual abuse case that had sat for several years with no investigation.

The officer is Detective Inspector Kevan Verry.

Verry, who works in the National Gang Unit based in Wellington, has been a police officer for nearly 30 years.

Of the 54 cases, 40 related to child protection, 12 were adult sexual assault and two were other types of crime, Assistant Commissioner District Support Tusha Penny told RNZ.

Penny said the specialists who had reviewed the cases found they "don't meet our own standards and our processes".

In response to questions from RNZ, Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad said she was "aware that this matter may involve files where children were left in circumstances that posed risks to their welfare".

"If that is the case, it is deeply concerning. Any situation where information about potential harm to children has not been acted on appropriately raises serious questions and must be carefully examined. The safety, wellbeing and rights of affected mokopuna must remain the priority, including as these matters are further investigated and reviewed."

Achmad said she was "very concerned" about the matter given the "potential significant implications for children and their rights".

"Last month during a meeting with a member of Police leadership I was given a high-level indication of a child protection matter concerning a member of Police. Police contacted me on 6 July to provide me with a further update."

She requested a more detailed briefing on Tuesday, which police had committed to provide as soon as possible. They will also provide her with monthly briefings, she said.

"My deep concern about this matter is that every disclosure by a child or young person of alleged sexual abuse, violence, or other child protection concerns must be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. The rights of children and young people, including their right to be heard and to access justice, must be at the centre of every response.

"Children and young people have told me how difficult and traumatic it can be to disclose abuse to police, often requiring them to relive some of the most harmful experiences of their lives. It is vital that all children and young people can trust that disclosures of abuse and harm will be responded to appropriately, thoroughly and with an understanding of the impact on them."

Achmad said she had sought and received assurances from police that it was not a nationwide systemic issue.

"I will continue to seek a clear understanding of the full scale of what has occurred. I also acknowledge that police has self-referred the matter to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).

"All public agencies, including New Zealand Police, must work harder to ensure the rights of mokopuna are consistently prioritised, respected and protected. Every child and young person in Aotearoa New Zealand should be able to rely on our institutions to keep them safe and to respond appropriately when harm is disclosed."

Money, who received a briefing on the matter from police, said they told her there was a possibility children had been left at risk.

"It was very early stages... they were still in the middle of their review rapid comprehensive review process. It was certainly one of the scenarios that was discussed with me."

Money said she had a "visceral" reaction when she was told.

"It's really hard to replay how you feel when you hear that from two assistant commissioners of police who are visibly concerned about it as well.

"Once I got over the shock of that, I then obviously went into a problem-solving mode, in terms of asking, when will this review be over? What are the plans to secure safety? What are you doing to determine current risk of these people being families and victims, as well as alleged perpetrators, and that's where I sought confidence in what they were doing nationally with a group of senior experts."

Money said the case was "one of the worst things I can remember in terms of risk and ongoing risk to children".

"That someone has decided to file, which means close a complaint that involves even a shadow of risk about a child's safety, it's utterly devastating."

RNZ asked OT for comment on the latest revelations.

Deputy Chief Executive Thomas Ronan said in a statement the agency wanted to "give the public assurance we are working with Police to understand the potential impacts".

"Given there are currently active police investigations under way, we are unable to comment further."

Ronan earlier said OT was working with police to determine what role they may have had in the identified cases, and what support may be needed in the reopened investigations.

Police yet to give Verry details

RNZ approached Verry on Tuesday evening.

He replied: "I can't comment about the matter whilst an employment investigation is being undertaken and police have not provided me with any details of the cases involved".

RNZ understands Verry is on special leave.

It is believed the allegations relate to investigations that were closed and did not proceed to court.

It is understood that Verry's role at the time was as a second level supervisor. He would not be involved in investigating the file, but would receive the file with recommendations once the information had been gathered.

Speaking to Checkpoint on Tuesday, Penny said the investigation began after supervisors saw that a senior officer had one file that had sat for a couple of years with no investigations being done.

She confirmed the file was a historical allegation of sexual abuse.

None of the files had gone to prosecution, Penny confirmed.

Penny was unable to rule out that the alleged offenders had not offended again while the cases had been filed.

"So that is exactly why we're taking this approach, because I'm not going to rule out anything.

"What we're going to do is have a comprehensive investigation of each one… the New Zealand police aren't going to stand back and hide anything, it will be full and transparent, but our priority is around these victims and around making sure we do the job we need to do."

An IPCA spokesperson told RNZ they were notified by police of the matter on 2 June.

"We are overseeing the police investigation into this matter. Police have been keeping us updated on matter."