The Independent Police Complaints Authority will investigate how police nationwide have dealt with child abuse cases.
The inquiry follows complaints made in June of delays in the police response to child abuse cases in the Wairarapa.
"The authority has established a dedicated team of investigators and lawyers focusing solely on this inquiry," authority chair Justice Lowell Goddard said today.
"The authority has received evidence that there have been delays or issues with management of child abuse cases in districts other than the Wairarapa and is therefore treating this as a nationwide inquiry." The inquiry will focus on police conduct, practices, policies and procedures, in relation to child abuse cases.
It will consider the manner in which child abuse cases are received, prioritised and investigated by police, Justice Goddard said.
As part of the inquiry, the authority will also conduct an independent audit of child abuse cases and investigate complaints about police handling of child abuse cases.
People with relevant information, such as police staff, social workers and staff of child welfare agencies, families and other members of the public, can make submissions, which would be received in confidence, Justice Goddard said.
"The authority is concerned about past delays in completing investigations.
"Our inquiry will determine the extent of those delays, and what lessons can be learned to ensure that future investigations are completed effectively and in a timely manner," she said.