Police have confirmed they will re-launch an investigation into former National MP Andrew Falloon who was accused of sending inappropriate images to young women.
"Police can confirm we are investigating and will not be making any further comment at this time," a police spokesperson told Newshub on Thursday.
Falloon resigned effective immediately as a National MP earlier this week after National leader Judith Collins was tipped off by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that a teenage woman had received an inappropriate sexual image from him.
In early July, police investigated a complaint that Falloon sent an unsolicited explicit image. They say it didn't meet the threshold to prosecute. But a fresh investigation is now going ahead.
Collins has accused Falloon of lying to her and the police by not coming clean about the extent of the allegations. She confirmed on Thursday that there are now "at least five" complaints against Falloon.
"Another one came through last night and I've talked to the family and I've suggested that they go to the police," Collins told reporters. "It's at least five. Where they have asked to speak to me, the offer is still there."
"He is no longer an MP, he is no longer a National MP, but if anybody wants to speak to me about their particular case or to get any assurance of what we can do, I am doing exactly that.
"The police have made it clear to me that they were intending, when I spoke to them on Tuesday, that they are most likely to reopen the investigation. The more women who come forward to the police, the more evidence the police will have."
Collins said she hopes victims feel comfortable coming forward.
"Knowing that there are other victims should give some comfort to those victims who have not yet decided to come forward," Collins said. "If there are more, please come forward. It's clearly a pattern of behaviour."
Collins would not say how old the latest complainant is but she confirmed she is young.
"She's a young woman."
Collins said the complainants are "all relatively young".
"The main thing I think with the sort of behaviour is that it tends to be quite secret. People involved in this sort of behaviour that he's clearly indulged in are manipulative and I think it's best-placed with the police now."
