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This page last updated Feb
16 2005
1999-0220 - Waikato Times -
False Sex Complaint Rate High : Police
by
Kris McGehan - Hamilton police are becoming increasingly frustrated with
false sex complaints which make up a quarter of sex offences they
investigate. Last year, 147 sex offences were reported to Hamilton police. More than one quarter (41) were found to be
false. In the greater Waikato, police dealt with 297 sex offences last year
and 77 proved groundless.
The high number of false accusations also create difficulties for genuine
victims. Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead of Hamilton CIB said police
tended to delve more closely into sex complaints they receive, giving the
impression of over-vigorous investigating. "Because so
many sex offence complaints are shown to be false, we are obliged to look
extremely carefully at every complaint we receive. In that
process, extra trauma can be created for genuine victims." Mr Whitehead
said
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