1,659 cases of child sex abuse: Police struggling to cope with a massive increase in paedophilia claims following the royal commission

By Cindy Tran
Daily Mail (UK)
September 12, 2016

http://goo.gl/po7Guj

The royal commission has flagged more than 1,500 child sexual abuse cases to the police to consider for further investigation, a hearing has hear

Justice Peter McClellan​ (pictured) told a Sydney hearing the cases have led to a growing pressure to investigate allegations of paedophilia across the country

Around 5866 survivors of child sexual abuse have met with commissioners during private sessions, with another 1,616 people yet to speak

Children sexually abused across three states failed to report the assault over concerns they didn't think they would be believed, the commission found

The royal commission has referred more than 1,500 child sexual abuse cases to the police to consider for further investigation, a hearing has heard.

Up to 71 people were prosecuted after 1,659 matters reported since 2013 were passed on, imposing strains on resources of police forces in Australia, ABC News reported.

Chairman of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Peter McClellan​ told a Sydney hearing the cases have led to a growing pressure to investigate allegations of paedophilia across the country. 

'Because of the volume of references, the resources of the various police forces have been placed under significant pressure,' Justice McClellan said.

Justice McClellan said the commission had received information about 4,000 institutions but found it would be difficult to hold public hearings into all the cases.

'The case studies have been selected to ensure an appropriate geographical spread and also an appropriate reflection of the type of institution where survivors were abused,' he said. 

Around 5866 survivors of child sexual abuse have met with commissioners during private sessions, with another 1,616 people yet to speak.

The cases comes as the commission will hold a public hearing on Monday into how the Catholic Church responded to child sexual abuse allegations by convicted paedophile priest John Joseph Farrell.

The hearing will examine the responses of the Catholic Diocese of Armidale and Parramatta and the Special Issues Group for the Province of Sydney.

Justice McClellan said the inquiry into Farrell will be the final case study in relation to Catholic institutions.

The hearing comes as a report into child sexual abuse in Salvation Army homes across three states often went unreported.

Children sexually abused in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia failed to report the assault over concerns they didn't think they would be believed, the commission found. 

The investigation into the historic abuse at four homes has also revealed those who did complain were threatened with physical harm.

The commission said in failing to take action the Salvation Army provided a culture in which staff and officers were able to continue their abuse.