Second Labour sexual assault claim
Labour’s general secretary has confirmed he’s been told by Young Labour of a second sexual misconduct incident at a similar event to the one last month where four teenagers were allegedly assaulted.
Andrew Kirton was contacted by Young Labour on Monday night to say a woman had come forward saying she had been sexually assaulted at an event in the last 10 years.
Her complaint comes after a 20-year-old man allegedly put his hands down the pants of at least three 16-year-olds at a Labour summer camp near Waihi last month.
Kirton said the new complainant contacted him yesterday morning and he has since spoken to her and offered her both counselling support and help approaching police, if she chooses to do so.
He said the event, which is ‘‘not too dissimilar’’ to the February summer camp – one that discussed party policy and campaigning – is where the historic sexual assault is alleged to have happened.
‘‘They contacted Young Labour last night. I spoke to them today and offered support and if they wanted to take it to the police we could facilitate that or if they wanted to do it themselves we’d support them in that. That’s tomorrow, the next day or in three months’ time.
‘‘I talked through with them the experience and kind of left it there so they can reflect on that and see what action they want to take – given it was a few years ago they might want further reflection,’’ he said.
If the woman wanted to offer any help to the review the Labour Party is undertaking of its processes around dealing with sexual misconduct, she would be welcome to do that, Kirton said.
Labour had a 16-page document that set out processes and procedures, however, it would be reviewing its handling of the situation in light of the incident last month.
There was alcohol present at the summer camp, despite some of the attendees being underage.
The Young Labour supporter who allegedly assaulted the teenagers was ejected the morning after the alleged incidents, and barred from future events.
The alleged incidents took place on Saturday, February 10, and Labour Party President Nigel Howarth, Senior Vice-President Beth Houston, and Kirton were made aware on Wednesday, February 14.
Kirton said the party did not tell police, the victims’ parents, the prime minister, or other senior Labour Party MPs in order to keep the circle small, and not risk further distress to the victims.
Kirton said the decision to take this ‘‘victim-led approach’’ was based on the Labour Party’s and Young Labour’s internal processes for dealing with these sorts of incidents. It was not based on advice from experts.
However, the head of the sexual abuse survivor support organisation Help said Labour followed the correct process in dealing with alleged sexual assault at its summer camp.
It was up to the victims to tell police or parents.
In regards to the most recent complaint, Kirton said, he had kept the Prime Minister’s office in the loop but he only became aware of it after he had spoken to Jacinda Ardern on Monday night.
Kirton said it was ‘‘irrelevant’’ whether he was concerned there might be more complaints to come of this nature.
‘‘If there’s something we can do, we’re looking into what we can do to investigate this and make sure anyone else who has something they want to tell us, then they can. Whether I’m concerned or not is irrelevant.’’
He said he couldn’t speculate on whether this would encourage more victims to come forward.
‘‘Because it’s just happened we’re looking at how we respond to that and I might have some more to say about that soon.’’
‘‘We want to make sure people feel supported if they choose to (come forward),’’ he said.