Invercargill has more reports of sexual assault than anywhere else in the South. Southland Help practice manager Rhona Shaw said she believed the statistics reflected the community's "confidence" in dealing with the police sexual harm team. I think it's a positive reflection on the sexual harm team. Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis, of the Child Protection and Adult Sexual Assault Team, said police were not able to draw any "definitive conclusion" on reasons for figures or fluctuations. "We strongly encourage anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault to come forward and speak with police," he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 06, 2018 16:41 UTC