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Allegations of Sexual
Abuse |
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Agencies dealing with rape and
sexual abuse in New Plymouth are worried a police warning about false
complaints may discourage real victims from coming forward. In the last fortnight a woman has
been charged with making a false sexual assault complaint, a girl's been
referred to youth aid and the police say three similar cases lack
credibility. But the police say complainants
need to know their claims will be tested. They've warned that false
complainants can be jailed for three months. A counsellor and former manager of
the Taranaki Safer Centre, Lorraine Jans, says that may increase the distrust
of police felt by many genuine victims. And New Plymouth's Women's Centre
says women who have been attacked, but don't go to the police, far outnumber
those who make false allegations. Lorraine Jans says she's confident
advising women that New Plymouth's police deal with sexual attack allegations
sensitively.
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