Vic: Anti-knife ad campaign resorts to name-calling
By Lisa Walker
MELBOURNE, Aug 26 AAP - An advertising campaign using strong language and targetingyoung people who carry weapons was today launched by the Victorian government.
The advertisements, part of a $550,000 campaign, also warn young people that if theyare caught carrying a weapon they face a fine of up to $12,000 or 12 months' jail.
Police Minister Andre Haermeyer said a dangerous and unacceptable trend was developingof young people carrying knives and weapons.
Two groups were mainly involved - school children aged 12 and older who carried themin their school bags because they thought it offered protection, and young men aged 18to 24 who believed it was cool and tough and offered self defence.
Victorian surgeons backed the campaign, warning that even the shortest knife couldinflict fatal injuries.
The Alfred Hospital had reported an 80 per cent jump in minor knife injuries and a110 per cent increase in major knife injuries in the past year, the Victorian Trauma Committeeof the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said.
The government said the advertisements targeting young men used the terms "wanker"
and "dickhead" because research showed emotional messages were more effective than rationalmessages about weapons.
"The headline language is the voice of a young male's peers, therefore it is essentialit is consistent with the vernacular of Melbourne's young people," it says in a release.
As part of the crackdown, 420 new handheld metal detectors will be used by Victorianpolice from today to help search for illegal weapons.
It also coincides with legislation due to come before the spring session of parliamentto broaden the powers of police to conduct searches for weapons.
Under the proposed laws, police will only need a "reasonable suspicion" a person iscarrying a prohibited weapon to conduct a search, whereas they currently need a "reasonablebelief".
Melbourne social worker Les Twentyman said the normally safe haven of schools werebecoming war grounds as a result of children carrying knives.
"We don't want to become a nation of Crocodile Dundees, let's go back to a traditionalway of life," he told reporters.
AAP lmw/clr/cd/sb
KEYWORD: KNIVES DAYLEAD
No comments:
Post a Comment