From the press room
Cracker of an idea: Ass of a law - Dunne – 2008-08-08
The circulation of a British television celebrity’s photograph to catch a teenage burglar in Christchurch is “an exercise in absurdity, made necessary by a daft law,” according to UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne.
A wanted poster featuring Robbie Coltrane is being used by police to try to catch a teenage burglar who resembles the actor.
Because of the Children and Young Persons Act 1989, “Police cannot show you a picture of the 16-year-old burglar operating in your neighbourhood,” the poster explains.
“We are protecting the privacy of a serial burglar who is still operating in the community and that police are actively trying to catch. I commend the Police on their ingenuity, but this simply demonstrates that the law is an ass, and needs to be addressed,” says Mr Dunne.
“It should be embarrassing for us that the Brits are having a laugh at our expense. This joke of a situation is being reported in Britain by the BBC, the Guardian and the Telegraph to name a few.
“There is a perception in New Zealand that we are more interested in protecting the rights of criminals than victims, and situations like this simply exacerbate it.
“I think that any future victims of this crook would have cause to be very, very angry. I just hope the ‘Robbie the robber’ poster works and this offender is taken off the streets,” says Mr Dunne.