Police probe baby girl's injuries

A five-week-old girl with multiple breaks to both arms is the latest suspected child-abuse case being investigated by Christchurch police.

The baby, whose family is understood to have Mongrel Mob connections, was admitted to Christchurch Hospital for treatment on Wednesday.

Police were alerted to the injuries, which were thought to be non-accidental.

The police child-abuse unit is investigating the case, while paediatricians are assessing the baby for any further injuries.

Christchurch Hospital confirmed the baby was in a stable condition last night.

Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro said the case was yet another reminder of an insidious problem.

Each week, the nation's hospitals were seeing 11 babies and children admitted with serious, non-accidental injuries.

"These are the kinds of cases that paediatricians see routinely, and that's why they have tried for so long to get child abuse on the national agenda," she said. "And not just getting people pointing fingers, but seriously looking at how to put things in place to stop it."

Typical cases involved babies being violently shaken, broken limbs and sexual abuse.

"It really is time to make the kind of investment in prevention, intervention and rehabilitation that we need to make," Kiro said.

"They are still small numbers, but each one is an absolute tragedy and the potential for it to happen again is quite high.

"There are professional, statutory and community organisations trying to do their best and they need support to do it, both financial and from the public."

In Christchurch, health workers are referring nearly two children a week as suspected victims of physical abuse to the Canterbury District Health Board's child-protection service.

Last year, 87 suspected child victims were referred to the service. Over the same period, 26 at-risk babies were removed from mothers soon after birth.