Police launch rapid review of 1,000 sexual assault, child abuse cases managed by one senior officer

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Police have reviewed close to 1,000 adult sexual assault and child abuse files amid concerns some were not properly managed.

As a result, 54 cases have been identified as requiring re-investigation.

The review is understood to have been started in a North Island district and was then extended to other police districts where the officer has worked.

The chief victims advisor describes the situation as “horrific” and says she has sought assurances “everything is being audited with the utmost attention”.

Police have reopened 54 adult sexual assault and child abuse investigations after concerns about one senior officer triggered a review of close to 1,000 files.

The long-serving senior officer now faces an employment process.

Following questions from Stuff, police have confirmed that concerns were raised in May this year about the officer’s management of one historic case. That initial case sparked a review which initially identified 13 cases as requiring further investigation.

Assistant Commissioner district support Tusha Penny told Stuff in a statement that all those cases have been reassigned and all victims contacted.

She said police then undertook a rapid review of “close to 1,000 files” which were under the oversight of the senior officer when he worked in different locations over a three-year period from May 2023.

That review identified a further 40 cases for re-investigation, bringing the total to 54, including the initial case of concern. “We have engaged external support agencies to offer support to the complainants in these cases,” Penny said.

She said the officer involved is currently subject to an employment process and “the details cannot be discussed”.

Penny said an internal assurance audit of all districts and service centres had confirmed “there were not wider systemic issues”.

Police have self-referred the matter to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

“We take our commitment to victims seriously and as part of this process, we will be working to further strengthen our processes,” Penny said. “We are working with Oranga Tamariki, IPCA and other agencies, as we progress this matter.”

Penny said while the issue was “extremely concerning” for police, she said it did not reflect the dedication and work of officers across the country.

Chief victims advisor Ruth Money, who has been briefed by police, described it as “a horrific situation”.

“Action wasn’t taken, investigations weren’t undertaken or were completed early. I suspect ultimately it means that victim-survivors haven’t had a voice, haven’t been seen, and haven’t got justice that I believe they were entitled to.”

Do you know more? Email paula.penfold@stuffdigital.co.nz

Asked whether that meant there were potentially cases where alleged perpetrators had not been charged, Money said: “That’s as I understand it.”

“I have sought assurance that everything is being audited with the utmost attention … and that the most experienced professionals are working on those cases.”

Money said she had also sought assurances of adequate support for victims, along with the support services dealing with them, and for police staff reviewing the files.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell was not aware of the matter until approached by Stuff for comment on Monday.

“On becoming aware of the situation, I have requested a full briefing from Police,” he said.

“My expectation is that victims whose files have been re-opened are receiving information and support and I have asked police for reassurance this is happening.”

He said he was pleased police had undertaken a full audit of all files.

“Our police officers do outstanding work every day in the very difficult, sensitive and challenging area of child sex offending and will be feeling badly let down by this situation. These officers invest a lot of themselves in supporting and working hard for the best outcome for victims.

“The victims must be at the heart of any additional police work on the files identified,” Mitchell said.

The current case has some similarities to the discovery in 2008 of a substantial backlog of child abuse investigation files in the Wairarapa. More than 100 active files were identified as having had little or no progress in relation to the initial complaint.

Police launched Operation Hope to assess, prioritise and investigate the files, which led to an urgent audit of child abuse investigations in all other districts – Operation Scope– which reviewed more than 2,700 files.

A subsequent damning IPCA report made multiple criticisms of police including wrong coding of child abuse complaints and problems with the way victims had been interviewed.

The IPCA said some child abuse files in the Eastern District had been recorded as lost “as a means of reducing overdue file statistics”. The files were subsequently found in a cabinet.

The current review and the standing down of the detective inspector come as police face scrutiny over a series of unrelated issues.

Two complaints made against Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, one received in November last year and another in February this year, are being investigated by the IPCA and police National Integrity Unit.

Chambers has said he “strongly rejects the claims that have been made”.

Last month, a senior Auckland detective was revealed as one of three police officers charged with possessing objectionable publications, following investigations arising from a rapid review of police information security controls in the wake of the McSkimming scandal.

Last December, former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming pleaded guilty to charges involving child exploitation and bestiality images. The objectionable images were found on his work devices.