Historic charges: Former teacher arrested

The 73-year-old is due to appear in Hamilton District Court today.

Police have arrested a former St Peter's School teacher following an investigation into historical sexual offending at the Cambridge school.

The 73-year-old is charged with 10 counts of indecent assault involving seven victims and is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court today.

"The investigation focused on the time period from 1974 to 1980, with St Peter's School management aware and supportive of the investigation," says a police spokesperson.

"Police would like anyone with information to contact them on 105 quoting file number 211203/3311 or by emailing Operation.Caster@police.govt.nz."

In a statement provided to SunLive, St Peter's Cambridge School Board Trust chair John Macaskill-Smith says the school is fully cooperation with police in relation to the investigation involving a former staff member.

The confirmation follows NZ Police informing the school that a former staff member will be charged with offences related to alleged historical student abuse in Hamilton District Court today.

While the person being charged has name suppression, police confirmed the person worked at St Peter's Cambridge in the late-1970s.

John says he understands the school's acknowledgement and apology for historical staff abuses, made in November 2021, was the prompt that led alumni to come forward to police and subsequent charges to be laid.

'We fully support alumni who have come forward. The School Trust Board wants to assure them we have been cooperating fully with NZ Police and we will continue to do so.

'To avoid compromising the judicial process in any way, St Peters' Cambridge will minimise further public statements about the charges laid today.”

In recent years, St Peter's has initiated many safeguards to protect current and future students who learn and board with the school, says John.

It has developed a child protection policy and processes and invested in ongoing child safeguarding training for staff while also ensuring students have a range of ways to report any concerns.

Child abuse prevention and safeguarding is openly discussed with students to reinforce that abuse in any form is not tolerated at St Peter's Cambridge.

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