Waimakariri MP, Clayton Cosgrove says he is planning to complain to the Minister of Police if Christchurch’s
controversial “over 25” car sticker scheme is not seriously considered for national use.
Mr Cosgrove said that while he realised most complaints about the scheme were based on concerns about discrimination he
thought the idea was simple and brilliant.
He did not share the voiced concerns of Youth Affairs Minister, Laila Harre, and Christchurch men Yani Johanson and Sam
Fisher about the scheme at all. Instead he found himself in the odd situation of totally agreeing with National Ilam MP,
Gerry Brownlee that the objections to the scheme were “nonsense.’’
“I’m pretty sure Gerry understands that the under-25 stickers relate to age and not income levels and I would have to
say for once we are in agreement,’’ said Mr Cosgrove.
He wanted Minister of Police, George Hawkins to give serious consideration to encouraging the adoption of the scheme
throughout New Zealand.
“The namby pamby brigade really need to get out of their ivory and glass towers and go out and talk to some real people
about issues like car theft.
“If they did talk to some real people about the problem they might find that people feel very discriminated against
themselves when some yobbo pinches their car.’’
He had talked to constituents about the scheme over the weekend and failed to find the wounded feelings and concerns
that the critics said the scheme was producing.
Mr Cosgrove said that there seemed to be some “bizarre’’ logic at play when the controversy about the stickers seemed
based on the possible feelings of young people about being reminded their age group were the worst offenders in car
theft.
Once again the rights and security of victims had been pushed to one side by a skewed debate about the rights of
offenders.
“This sticker scheme is another great innovation for Christchurch.
We should be supporting it instead of hugging youth offenders and wailing about their feelings,’’ said Mr Cosgrove.
ENDS