Roast Busters: Female Detective to Lead Case, NZ PM John Key Considers Rape Prevention Education

The Roast Busters investigation will be led by an experienced female detective, according to New Zealand authorities. Police have appointed Detective Inspector Karyn Malthus to head the newly-established body Operation Clover.

Detective Malthus, who usually handles serious cases of crime in the Auckland city district, will join the Waitemata Child Protection team who has been investigating the members of Roast Busters since a 13-year-old filed a formal complaint in 2011.

Her appointment to Operation Clover came after Police Commissioner Peter Marshall admitted that police should have handled the Roast Busters sex scandal earlier. He also conceded that authorities have repeatedly provided the wrong information to media about the number of alleged victims.

Roast Busters is a group of teenage boys in West Auckland whose members boasted on Facebook that they had sex with drunk and underage girls.

Roast Busters members Joseph Parker and Beraiah Hales are said to be in hiding since their faces and names were revealed to the public. Joseph Parker has reportedly skipped town to get away from the scandal. According to reports, the parents of Mr Parker defended the actions of their son despite the videos of their son on Facebook showing him and his friend bragging about their sexual escapades with young and drunk girls.

The son of police Constable Craig Burrow, Tristan Burrow, was confirmed to have involvement with Roast Busters in 2011. Mr Burrow said he will cooperate with the police investigation and swears he had no ties with the group since 2011.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the government will be considering rape prevention education in schools. When asked about sex education, Mr Key said the government will have to tread the waters carefully.

When it comes to sex education, some parents might feel that kind of information must be go through them since they see it as part of their duties and responsibilities as parents. Mr Key made the comments after a Cabinet meeting in a press conference. He said rape prevention education is a delicate matter and the government is open to take advice on the matter.