Police call on abuse victims to report all historic cases By By ALEX DRUCE May 12, 2013, midnight
TASMANIA Police has revealed that almost a quarter of sexual assaults reported since July 2012 were committed more than a year before the alleged victims spoke up, with some cases dating back to the 1970s.
Acting deputy commissioner Donna Adams said the 2011-12 reporting period showed a similar gap between the alleged assault and the time it was reported, with some cases dating back to the 1950s.
Ms Adams acknowledged the complex nature of "cold case" investigations, but urged victims of historical child sexual abuse to continue to report incidents.
"Such investigations are often difficult and complex due to the passage of time," Ms Adams said.
"But Tasmania Police actively encourages victims of any crime, and certainly child sexual abuse, to report all such incidents.
"All reports are reviewed by a senior officer to determine the most appropriate course of action in moving forward."
Ms Adams's comments followed a prediction by a West Australian academic that hundreds of people across the country would be reporting cases to police after the start of the national royal commission into child sexual abuse.
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In an ABC interview, Professor Caroline Taylor, head of the Social Justice Research Centre at Edith Cowan University, talked about her five-year study that looked at how Victoria Police responded to adults reporting sexual assault.
Aside from predicting a rise in the reporting of historical abuse cases, Professor Taylor criticised Victoria Police for its attitude towards assaults that happened years ago.
Professor Taylor said there were officers worried about a lack of evidence, and others who believed that some were better off putting their abuse behind them.
The royal commission into child sexual abuse started a new phase this week with victims from institutions relating their experiences in face-to-face private sessions.The royal commission will travel across Australia conducting private sessions in capital cities and regional locations.
Jehovah Witness victims of Childhood Sex Abuse - from TASMANIA, Australia - Police call on abuse victims to report all historic cases.
by Sol Reform 4 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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Sol Reform
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Refriedtruth
Ms Adams's comments followed a prediction by a West Australian academic that hundreds of people across the country would be reporting cases to police after the start of the national royal commission into child sexual abuse.
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ABibleStudent
Thanks for sharing Sol Reform. Please keep posting about the progress of the Royal Commission, because I plan to write to my representatives when the Commission's report is released. And, Go Aussies!!
I hope the victums give the royal commissioners a lot of new information to grill the WTBTS's representatives as well as other religiious leaders who put the well-being of the organization above the wellfare of victums and individuals.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
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zeb
good stuff solreform for putting this up for the world to see.
peace.
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Sol Reform
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1762475/privacy-for-sex-abuse-victims/?cs=95
Privacy for sex abuse victims By PATRICK BILLINGS Sept. 9, 2013, midnight THE landmark royal commission into child sex abuse will meet Tasmanian victims this month. It will first hold private hearings with victims. See your ad here Royal commission chief executive Janette Dines said there had been a strong response from people wanting to tell their story in a private session. "More than 326 people have already told their story in private sessions across the country, and we expect to speak to at least 850 more before the end of the year," she said. The royal commission will examine how institutions with a responsibility for children managed and responded to allegations and instances of child sexual abuse. One of Tasmania's most high- profile child sex abuse cases involved Burnie's Marist Regional College when it was run by the Marist Fathers. In 2008 trainee priest Paul Ronald Goldsmith was convicted of molesting about 20 boys in the 1970s. Two other Marist priests who taught at the school about that time have spent time in jail for sexually abusing students in their rooms at the school. Last year order head Father Paul Cooney said he expected Marist Fathers to be called before the royal commission when hearings were held in Tasmania. See your ad here The Marist Fathers are leaving the Burnie/Wynyard parish at the end of 2013 after 57 years in the parish and at Marist Regional College.
The royal commission is encouraging people affected by child sexual abuse in institutions to register to tell their story by calling 1800099340 or emailing[email protected].