ONE LAW FOR ALL

Take a look at this wanker. Filthy Shit Aka Blanket Man the "urban legend" who is a common sight on the streets of downtown Wellington.

Now we think that the authorities lax attitude to him is just plain wrong. Every successful Maori we know cringes at the sight of him. Every unsuccessful one waves, feeds him or greets him with a "Chur Bro."

Says it all really.

But today we saw Blanket man blatantly break the law - a breach that would see anyone else fined. At the very least the liquor should be confiscated. And after a six pack of RTD bourbon, as was the case today - Blanket man would be intoxicated. We have seen him when he is pissed and he can become quite aggressive so he could also be arrested for being intoxicated.

Say an 18 year old wanders down Courtenay Place sees Blanket man getting pissed in full public view on a public street on a Friday night , then one of his mates gets chucked in the slammer for being intoxicated later that night that 18 year old would have less respect for the law and the law inforcers.

A lack of action by the authorities in this case sends all the wrong messages.

Blanket man not an icon. He is not loved by all. He needs to be treated as any other citizen. Inaction on the part of the authorities is an abrogation of their responsibility to uphold the law and apply it equally to everyone.

And I am more than happy for the police to "seize" my photographic evidence of this prick breaking the law.

BLACK DAY FOR BLACK POWER.

As our nation reels from the news that a little four year old boy  was attacked in Whakatane  for wearing a red tee shirt by a Black Power wannabe ( read prospect), we  are more incensed by the response from Black Power.

The abuse of the four-year-old, as his father's back was turned, is the latest of several violent gang "colours" incidents. It has sparked outrage within gang circles and from the police minister.
The little boy was screamed at, prodded, then had his shirt ripped off him as he played in Whakatane's Cutler Crescent reserve about 3.30pm last Thursday.
The street is home to many blue colour-coded Black Power members. The rival Mongrel Mob's colours are red.

Firstly one of the local leaders ( read bully and thug) says they are keeping a look out for the perpetrator and they will deal to him.

"We are not happy with this. We are keeping a watch out for the guy. If he is found we will give him a good clouting." 

Wrong , wrong , wrong.

It is not up to the gang to be police. It is not up to them to perpetuate the cycle of violence. It is not for them exercise any form of jungle justice.

It is for them to find the cowardly  thug who beats a four year old up for wearing a red shirt and turn him over to the authorities so that those who have the responsibility for law and order can administer it. This thug should be treated as any other young thug. That its not okay.

If he receives a " clouting " from Black Power then all that does is cement  Black Power's authority and diminishes the authority of the police and court system.

Black Power leaders say they are trying to change the gang culture from within but their response to this incident puts pay to that lie.

We are also extremely saddened by the response of   acknowledged gang advocate  Denis O'Reilly  as well. While admitting that this heinous act is beyond the pale for even hardened gangsters  he is still worried about the " shame "  that it will bring to the gang.

The only shame that Black Power should feel is that none of them have the balls to turn this violent bully over to the authorities for him to face the full   force of the law. By doing that the gang would show their followers that they do have some respect for the judiciary and that they acknowledge that it is not their place to play vigilantes.

It is up to people like Denis to say that the gang will bring the coward to the police. That what he has done is not acceptable. That they have respect for our law and order system that the rest of us abide by. 

Simply put - their response shows Black Power still  think like criminals and act like criminals. 

Until then they only deserve contempt from the rest of us. 

KING TALKS BOLLOCKS

National has announced that it will be putting 300 more police into Counties Manukau.

Police Minister Annette King ( we used to respect her) has countered the announcement by saying it will create fear! Well bugger me, we know a few people in Counties Manukau and they say that fear is what they live with everyday.

I wonder if King has:

• Walked the streets of Manukau at night
• Visited local dairy owners
  
• Talked to the families of the victims of violence there
  
• Talked to her own police on the ground about how stretched they are trying to cope with what is fast becoming the criminal badlands of NZ.
  
• Talked to school teachers who see the effects of the lawlessness of the area.
• talked to families who have loved ones murdered and maimed.
  
• Talked to the Asian families who are enhancing our economy of the racism that is rife in Manukau.
  

Remember Mrs King - under Labour violent crime has soared by 47 per cent.

Key is right when he states in the Herald "For nine years, Labour has paid lip service to the citizens of Counties-Manukau while violence has soared by 65 per cent - and yet it has the second lowest police-to-population ratio of any police district in the country," Mr Key said.

He is going to put 25 more patrol cars on South Auckland streets within two years and boost overall New Zealand police numbers so there is one officer for every 500 people,"

We here at Roarprawn would like to see it higher than that - its simple arithmetic - put the money into proactive in your face coppers on the beat and you will save the money in the jails.

Mr Key also said an additional $18.5 million each year would be budgeted to recruit, train, and employ the extra police required.

"This will be funded from the allocation for new spending outlined in National's fiscal policy," Mr Key said.

He said National would also:

* Roll out Canterbury's persistent offender programme, which targets crime families, to other districts, subject to a positive evaluation of the trial;

* Ensure police work more closely with local communities to set and tackle local crime priorities and

* Ensure road safety policing concentrates on preventing accidents by focusing on those drivers and areas most at risk.

Good stuff National !