Police reinvestigation finds further alleged offending in 11 cases

Operation Hark, a major police reinvestigation of sexual assault and child abuse files, has identified 11 cases where further alleged offending occurred after the initial reports were made. The review of 57 cases has resulted in two men being charged, with more prosecutions expected and extradition proceedings initiated in three matters involving suspects overseas.

Detective Superintendent Keith Borrell described the identification of further offending as "a concerning finding". He stated that "it is deeply troubling that further harm may have occurred in some instances after that first report was made".

Twelve cases involved adult sexual assault complaints. Forty-three cases were filed without prosecution, often because victims chose not to proceed.

The reinvestigation began after concerns were raised in May regarding Detective Inspector Kevan Verry's handling of a historical sexual abuse case in Northland. Verry is currently under an ongoing employment investigation, though no findings have been made against him. A separate review into police handling is expected to be released publicly by late October.

Where reports differ

• One report notes that an examination of almost 1000 files identified dozens needing reinvestigation, while others focus on the 57 cases being reinvestigated

Compiled from reports by Stuff, RNZ, 1News and NZ Herald.