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Delays in the investigation of allegations of child sexual abuse in the Wellington city district 1995-1996: a retrospective study.

AIMS
To determine the duration of the statutory investigation process after referral of alleged chid sexual abuse and to assess which components of this process are most prone to delay.


METHODS
Retrospective review of police, Child Youth and Family (CYF) and medical records for 123 young persons <17 years old for whom a referral regarding alleged sexual abuse was made to the Wellington Serious Abuse Team from January 1995 to December 1996.


RESULTS
There were 82 (66.7%) females and 41 (33.3%) males referred. Maori and Pacific Island children were over-represented in the sample. The median time from referral to evidential interview or diagnostic interview was 47 days. This period was longer for children <5 years of age (66 days) compared with children > or =5 years of age (45.5 days), although this difference was not statistically significant. Although 53.3% of children alleged genital contact, only 26% were referred for a medical assessment. The time from initiation of investigation to completion was a median of 141 days. Reasons for delay were difficult to delineate but appeared to relate to inadequate staffing.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an unreasonable delay in the investigation of alleged child sexual abuse. This is particularly concerning in younger children.