Tuesday, 16 December 2014 - 4:09pm |
Waikato

Hamilton triple fatal fire update

2 min read

While crediting social media as offering officers another way to interact with the public, detectives investigating last month's triple fatal house fire in Hamilton warn people against jumping to conclusions.

Now into its fourth week, Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Patterson of the Hamilton CIB said as expected, Operation Olympus was proving to be a drawn out investigation.

"This matter is still very much an active investigation and the cause of the fire is still yet to be confirmed.

"Some forensic evidence remains to be examined and investigated and while all of this continues Police are using all means available to build up an accurate picture of what occurred on the morning of Saturday 15 November."

Mr Patterson said one of those means included the establishment of an Operation Olympus Facebook page which has met with considerable success.

"Already we've had 2900 likes, we've engaged with about 8000 people and we've reached 90,000.

"What this does for us as investigators is it puts the loss of Jake Hayes, Toni Maree Johnston and Connor Swetman right where they need to be, at the forefront of people's minds and it allows us to engage with people about what occurred that night who we might not normally be able to engage with."

But with that engagement comes some risks with the immediacy of social media meaning people speculating on some things being taken as genuine events and peoples' perceptions becoming confused.

"Like any large scale investigation from time to time Police may seek the assistance of people who may or may not be witnesses to help with their investigation.

"The people we've spoken to so far have been interacting with Police solely in this role and people would be ill advised to draw conclusions from this or be drawn into speculation."

Mr Patterson said no matter what role people involved in the current investigation are engaged in, they are all focused on one unified goal and that is working to achieve a conclusion for the families of the three people lost in the Collingwood St fire.

"We've had staff from across the Waikato and indeed from all over the country working on this case and no matter where they have come from they have all been focused on obtaining a successful result for the families and that resolve has not changed.

"Anyone who has information on what occurred on the night of the Collingwood St fire who hasn't already contacted Police is encouraged to contact the enquiry team either via the Hamilton Central Police Station on 07 858 6200 or via the Operation Olympus Facebook page."

Alternatively, information can be left anonymously with the independent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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