Police welcomes IPCA investigation into historic Auckland rapes inquiry

Friday, 23 August 2013 - 4:00pm

National News

Police welcome the decision by the IPCA to investigate allegations of police misconduct and the failure to investigate information relating to Malcolm Rewa.

"We recognise the courage of Malcolm Rewa's victims who have come forward and spoken out," says Acting Commissioner Viv Rickard.

"These victims have raised serious concerns about aspects of the police investigation and we therefore welcome the opportunity for these allegations to be independently investigated.

"Police will cooperate fully with the IPCA.

"Victims are at the centre of everything we do and it is very concerning when allegations like these are raised, particularly in relation to crimes as serious as this.

"We want to understand exactly what happened in relation to what took place 20 years ago.

"The IPCA is the appropriate authority to investigate these allegations and we will support their investigation in any way we can to establish what occurred.

"I would like to make it clear that police handling of rape complaints today is very different to 20 years ago.

"Significant improvements have been made to our systems, resources and the support provided to victims of sexual assault since the 2004 Commission of Inquiry.

"We now have specialist Adult Sexual Assault teams working in every district, with coordination from a national team at Police National Headquarters.

"We will always take the complaints of rape victims seriously and commit our best investigative and forensic resources to aid these investigations," says Acting Commissioner Rickard.

ENDS

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