Only just recently realised that Randy Jackson of American Idol fame is one of the Jackson 5 but to borrow a phrase;
Yo check it out. Dob in a tagger in Tauranga for scrilla!
I figure this represents an attitude that is becoming more prevelant amongst smaller town NZ. Legislating locally against tagging beyond the national measures already on their way.
Be it a judge, police or council, there is real feeling on tagging within these smaller towns in particular, and the implementation of mechanisms to deal with it. The problem with this one in Tauranga in particular is the criminalisation of first time offenders for what really is a minor crime. If the scope of what a tagger had done was huge then i’m sure they’d pursue criminal damage charges and skip diversion as an option anyway.
For a 18 year old caught doing a couple of tags it becomes a criminal charge impacting upon employment and travel opportunities. If anything locking them in to, or at least prolonging a certain level of life they already operate in. One which generated the tagging in the first place. And hey once you got one charge, you might as well keep collecting them.
Like this guy.
Common assault, possession of herb, indecent exposure, urinating in a public place, etc. The range of crimes for which you can apply for diversion are pretty large (not entirely sure about the assault one). To specifically set aside that of willful damage as a charge for which diversion is no longer applicable seems to indicate justice is at the whim of fashion, media and an apparent resurgent conservatism being embraced by ‘middle’ NZ.
Balls to that.
Still waiting for these kind of places to address the needs of their ‘bored’ youth. Seriously kids, up tools and get your selves to a real city, and not necessarily one in this country. Blam Blam Blam were talking about depression in 81 and the lack of it at that, albeit in a satirical manner. Right now we could be singing there is no repression in New Zealand.
