An Auckland police officer has been charged with beating a girl using his police-issued belt as a weapon.
The 35-year-old officer appeared in Manukau District Court this week facing four charges of assaulting a child with a weapon.
He was given name suppression until his next appearance this month.
According to court documents the complainant is 13 years old.
Three of the charges allege that between 2007 and 2013 the South Auckland resident "whacked the victim on the back on numerous occasions", used a leather belt to hit the girl in the stomach and hit her on the back and legs with a piece of wood.
The remaining two charges relate to incidents between 2012 and 2013.
It is alleged the defendant used his police belt as a weapon and struck her on the back and legs on "numerous occasions" during the two-year timeframe.
Counties Manukau police confirmed the accused was an officer in the district and said he was now on restricted duties.
