Glue-sniffers may be shot by camera

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 19

Glue-sniffers may be shot by camera

PA Palmerston North Mr Roger McEwan, of Palmerston North, is considering taking photographs of glue-sniffing youngsters in a bid to stop the practice in his local park. Mr McEwan said he had collected between 25 and 30 bags and tins of glue used by the youngsters in Takaro Park in four days. The glue sniffing had been happening for about two months and the problem was getting worse, Mr McEwan said. It was common for groups of both primary and secondary school children to gather at the park at 7.30 a.m. and stay there until 3.30 p.m., he said. The groups were usually made up of five or more, and both boys and girls took part. Mr McEwan said one recent Monday, 13 children gathered at the park for a session. They hid in trees round that park and had dug holes in the ground to hide their glue, he said. There was wide concern

about the problem in the Takaro area, he said. Discussions with neighbours led to the suggestion of taking photographs of the children involved. “At the moment, we’re thinking about taking the photos to the schools and asking the principals if the children belong to their schools. Then perhaps a youth aid officer or a visiting teacher can speak to these kids. “But if this doesn’t meet with any success, and the problem persists, then we’re considering taking the photos round the shops and asking the shopkeepers to display them in their stores.” Mr McEwan said the photographs were a suggestion only at this stage, and he had not yet approached any schools or shopkeepers with the idea. He had approached the police about the problem several times, but had been told glue-sniffing was not an offence against the law, he said.