The Dilworth investigation

The Herald reported:

Police have arrested and charged six men following an investigation into historical sexual offending at Dilworth School in Auckland.

Detective Senior Sergeant Geoff Baber said the Auckland City Criminal Investigation Branch had been investigating since a complaint was initially made a year ago.

A number of serious offences allegedly occurred across a number of decades from the 1970s to the early 2000s, Baber said.

“At this stage in our investigation we have identified 17 victims,” he said.

A 72-year-old, 73-year-old, 68-year-old, 69-year-old, 72-year-old and 78-year-old have been charged.

This is a stunning development. It is not unusual for schools to have had sexual offenders from time to time. But to have six different alleged offenders and 17 victims suggests something on a very different scale.

Good on Dilworth for front footing this and not seeking name suppression. Dilworth has provided excellent education to many students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. But once the criminal trials are over, there will be questions over how such (alleged) offending went undetected for so long.