MEDIA RELEASE:

16th April 2008

Tagging is not an Art Form says Judge

The Sensible Sentencing Trust has congratulated Judge Tony Adeane who handed down a 28 day sentence to a tagger who appeared in Court yesterday.

When sentencing the tagger Judge Adeane commented, “Tagging is neither art nor culture but covert, criminal behaviour.”

“It is a serious crime that destroys property, causes untold misery for ordinary householders and businesses, and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to clean up”.

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said the Judges comments were like a breath of fresh air coming as that do after the ridiculous comments made by the Children’s Commissioner.

Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro told a Select Committee “That for some people, graffiti and tagging are seen as legitimate art forms”, she went on to say “There is history and social commentary behind these art forms”.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust were so incensed by her comments they called for her resignation saying that tagging was an entry level crime and should be treated as such.

The Government later distanced itself from the Children’s Commissioners comments.

Mr McVicar said “This Judge deserves a medal, but sadly he is very much a minority voice within a Judiciary that has been brain-washed by the anti-prison / anti-punishment lobby”.

“We congratulate Judge Adeane and hope other Judges show the same courage and determination to stamp out tagging, this is a despicable crime that leads to more serious offending.

ENDS

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