Watchdog slams police over child abuse cases

[Bounce001]

"A damning report into the police handling of child abuse cases shows at least one district prioritised traffic fines ahead of child abuse investigations". (Rest of article on link below).

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10645792

What is the country coming to when the Police are more worried about taxing us for going a couple of km's over the speed limit than following up on reports of child abuse.

[98tls]

I would be more concerned over the amount of reported child abuse cases myself,you might have issues with how the cops prioritise things sure but bottom line is as a society NZs on its way down the shitter.

[blackdog]

"It was noted that staff were often required to attend to other investigative work that, in some instances, included directions to assist in meeting road policing targets," the IPCA report found.

see, there are no quotas.........just targets

[Bounce001]

I would be more concerned over the amount of reported child abuse cases myself,you might have issues with how the cops prioritise things sure but bottom line is as a society NZs on its way down the shitter.

Yep, that too. Hundreds of "missing" files is just dodgy. And these are the people that have sworn to protect us!

[slofox]

I would be more concerned over the amount of reported child abuse cases myself,you might have issues with how the cops prioritise things sure but bottom line is as a society NZs on its way down the shitter.

Weeeeellll.... I wonder about that 98tls...part of me agrees and part doesn't.

My own belief is that child abuse has always been with us. 30 years ago when I was teaching in rural Norfland, I came across just as much child abuse as I hear about now. And 50 years ago, when I was myself a young whippersnapper, there was plenty of it going on in my neighbourhood.

I think we are more aware of it now - back in the day, a lot of it was swept under the carpet. We are more likely to have it reported and publicized now than we were then. Increased reporting may or may not indicate increased occurance. It could be that we are less tolerant now than then and make more noise about what we do detect.

I would like to know just how many cases there are per head of population now compared with, say, 50 years ago. But I doubt such figures would be accurate even if available because I have no doubt that a lot of it still goes undetected, sadly enough.

Our definitions of child abuse have also changed. My old man would, these days, be accused of child abuse for the way he dished out physical punishments with lumps of wood or whatever else he could lay his hands on at the time. But back then, that was the norm. Everybody seemed to do it - hell we even got our hands belted with lumps of bamboo for making spelling mistakes at school...

But I do agree with the OP - I would prioritize child abuse over traffic enforcement every time. But then traffic enforcement is a lot easier to do innit? Not that I am cynical or anything you unnerstand...

[Scuba_Steve]

The problem is child abuse cases can involve alot of effort & they don't bring in the profits like traffic enforcement. The only way to get the P.I.G's to actively chase child abuse cases is to put a decent monetary value (profit) on it. Its pathetically sad but its true!

[miloking]

Whats this...police bashing time???

[peasea]

Whats this...police bashing time???

Yippee, I'm in.

I love this bit; "obviously Child Abuse is not an area of importance for the Police, as opposed to other areas, such as Traffic, which is"

Fuckwits.

[Squiggles]

when the Police are more worried about taxing us for going a couple of km's over the speed limit

This line must be as popular as waving threads...

[miloking]

Yippee, I'm in.

I love this bit; "obviously Child Abuse is not an area of importance for the Police, as opposed to other areas, such as Traffic, which is"

Fuckwits.

Its kind of no fun when our piggie crew (you know who you are ) are not here to tell us how child abuse is not as important as obeying traffic laws...i mean you gotta be finaly ashamed of what has your job become right???? (just like working for IRD but also driving holden while collecting the money)
i guess this topic doesnt inspire smart as trolling comments from them for once...

[peasea]

Its kind of no fun when our piggie crew (you know who you are ) are not here to tell us how child abuse is not as important as obeying traffic laws...i mean you gotta be finaly ashamed of what has your job become right???? (just like working for IRD but also driving holden while collecting the money)
i guess this topic doesnt inspire smart as trolling comments from them for once...

From that we can only assume that the report is 100% correct and that the situation has been brought about by the fact that there is no money in 'real' policing. The real money is in traffic infringement notices and their associated quotas, syphoning money from otherwise law-abiding people. It's easy money and so much easier to obtain when the national speed limit is set at an unrealistically low figure (for so many areas). If they placed a fine-gathering infringement notice on child abuse cases in NZ they'd rake in a fortune.

[crazyhorse]

They introduced that stupid "no smaking" law to prevent child abuse - which 99% of NZ'ers knew would make no difference to those who abuse.

Sad thing is, we now have the next generation of smart arses coming through, wimps who need to be driven to school, text on cellphones all day long, can't play in trees, and don't know how to lose a game of rugby.

I for one would rather any case of real child abuse gets checked out - and hopefully prevent the next child death out there

[miloking]

They introduced that stupid "no smaking" law to prevent child abuse - which 99% of NZ'ers knew would make no difference to those who abuse.

Sad thing is, we now have the next generation of smart arses coming through, wimps who need to be driven to school, text on cellphones all day long, can't play in trees, and don't know how to lose a game of rugby.

I for one would rather any case of real child abuse gets checked out - and hopefully prevent the next child death out there

Well no smacking law prevents child abuse just fine....just like DUI law prevents drink driving doesnt it so kids are safe, in fact we are all safe....
I guess now we just need anti suicide law to stop depresed teens killing themselves, anti-tax advoidance law so there is more money in a budget and we will have it all sorted here in good ol'EnZed....

[miloking]

reading this IPCA report today...just shocking! (but not all that surprised)

[Mr Merde]

.... And these are the people that have sworn to protect us!

Wrong they have sworn to uphold the Law of the land. There is no way in hell that they are able to protect us. By the nature of the job they are reactive not proactive.

According to the UN and every other Bill of rights your fundamental right is tio protect yourself not ask the police to do it.