Police can prosecute child sex abuse: ALA

AUSTRALIA
Perth Now

AAP
July 05, 2012

Police have no excuse for not pursuing allegations of child sex abuse in the Catholic Church, a lawyer’s group says.

CLAIMS aired by the ABC’s Four Corners program on Monday about abuse by a former Armidale priest known only as “Father F” have sparked calls by lawyers for a police investigation and a Royal Commission.

However, NSW police say they can only investigate if victims come forward and make a statement.

“In order to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse, police require any victims to come forward,” they said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

But the Australian Lawyers Alliance says this is only “partially true”.

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