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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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Presbyterian Support is
investigating claims of abuse at a Wellington children's home during the
1960s. Former residents have
made allegations against a former employee of Presbyterian Support Central,
which ran the Berhampore children's home. A spokesman for the
charitable trust, Trevor Roberts, said it had investigated two complaints
made in 2002 about the man's conduct. Last week, it learned of two other
complainants, and has made initial inquiries into their cases. Mr Roberts said the
trust's policy was to advise people to contact police when there were
criminal allegations involved. It would not try to "cover up" the
situation. "Whether the allegations
are justified or not, the answer is I don't know," Mr Roberts said.
"We don't have the skills to mount a criminal investigation, the police
do." One of the alleged
abuse victims lodged a complaint with Palmerston North police in 1987 but it
was found there was not enough evidence to justify a prosecution. Detective Inspector
Doug Brew, manager of Central Districts crime service, said the situation
could change if other complainants came forward. He is to meet the
complainant in the next two weeks to discuss her case and that of any other
complainants. If the matter was investigated it would be dealt with by
Wellington police, he said. Mr Roberts said none of
the complainants had taken legal action against Presbyterian Support. He
could not rule out further complainants coming forward. Presbyterian Support
Central stopped working with orphanages in 1985. It runs several elderly care
facilities and a social services unit. |
