Pamapuria School abuse could have been avoided

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Abuse could have been avoided

3News NZ

Mr Hassall says schools should make an effort to protect children

Mr Hassall says schools should make an effort to protect children

By 3 News online staff

A police warning three years ago wasn't enough for a Northland school to take action against its deputy principal, who has now admitted sexually preying on his pupils.

So how can we protect children from sex offenders if the system we are told to trust is letting us down?

“We’ve known about sexual abuse of children by people who have their care and are trusted by their communities for a very long time, fortunately they’re pretty rare but we have had these cases over the years in New Zealand,” former Children’s Commissioner Ian Hassall told Firstline this morning.

Mr Hassall believes the current case could have been avoided.

“My understanding of this is if the protocols had been followed, then this wouldn’t have happened,” he says.

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Comments

24/08/2012 1:22:32 p.m.

alison wrote:

I noticed with disgust that we dont have a current childrens commissioner. In this economic climate and with a govt claiming to be working on abuse figures, with their famous white paper, I would like to know why it was one of the first positions canned? Bring back a commisioner for the children and make it one that is not attached to a political party thanks. Oh and a prerequisite may be to have empathy which would rule out most politicians anyway.

24/08/2012 11:00:59 a.m.

mary wrote:

not to take the blame off james for what he has done but hey 1999(i think) is when this was first brought to the concern of the teaching board so in the big picture thats the teaching board and two schools and cyfs that have been aware of the possibility he was an abuser so who is going to stand up man up and come forward, look those kids in the eye and the parents and say sorry. he is very guilty but alot of people let it go when they should have done something.

24/08/2012 9:55:37 a.m.

moral outrage wrote:

CYF consistantly ignore police and public warnings on known pedophiles and other sex offenders preying on or attempting to pprey on children and youth. There needs to be a massive enquiry into this entrenched culture and practise with in CYF