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The
Press
March 21 1992
Childcare sex abuse inquiry
by Barry Clarke
Preliminary
inquiries into allegations of children being sexually abused at the
Christchurch Civic Child Care Centre have led to a police investigation.
Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Dalzell said yesterday many children would be
interviewed.
They included children now in care at the creche and those who had attended
in the past.
The investigation is expected to take several months.
The Christchurch City Council, which gives arms-length assistance to the
centre, yesterday sent letters to 180 families of children who had attended
since 1986-87, when the man at the centre of the inquiry was employed.
The letter invites them to a meeting on March 31, when the police and Social
Welfare Department staff will explain how to identify sexual abuse.
The creche management suspended a male worker last November after concerns
from a child's parents.
The parents made a complaint lo the police who began a preliminary
investigation. The man was dismissed by the City Manager, Mr John Gray, last
month.
The centre, in the Cranmer Centre, is run by a management committee of
parents.
The centre is funded by fees and Government, subsidy. The council approves
staff appointments on the recommendation of the committee.
The metropolitan services manager, Mr Rob Dally, said the council was
reviewing its methods for approving appointments and ensuring that follow-up
checks were made.
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