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12 April – 25 April 2011
Teen fears knife fine a cut to career
By Mike Hast A SOMERVILLE teenager hit with a $1000 fine for carrying a box cutter in her bag near Frankston railway station meets with high-profile lawyer David Galbally this week. Nineteen-year-old qualified disability support worker Ashleigh Hicks is fighting to clear her name after being given an on-the-spot penalty notice by transit safety division police during a knife blitz in Frankston in late January. She is worried that being fined for carrying the cutting tool, which has a 15 millimetre retractable blade that must be held in place with a thumb, will jeopardise her budding career and her ability to work with children. Ms Hicks works part time at Kmart in Hastings unpacking goods and stacking shelves while she seeks a full-time job in the disability services sector. She started working at Kmart four years ago while still at school. She is also doing parttime work as a casual teacher’s aide at schools for children with disabilities in the region. She was a highly regarded student at Chisholm TAFE in Frankston last year where she completed her Certificate IV in Disability Work. Her written plea to the transit police seeking withdrawal of the fine was rejected so she contacted Neil Mitchell of 3AW who interviewed her on air, sparking a minor media frenzy. Ms Hicks has been interviewed and filmed by the three major commercial television channels. “I was so disappointed the police rejected my request,” she told The News on the weekend. “I had letters from my boss at Kmart, and my TAFE course coordinator.” The incident and subsequent fuss has disrupted the normal lives of the family of two adults and five children aged between 13 and 21. Her father Geoff Hicks is ropeable the knife rules do not allow discretion. “You lose faith in the system over something like this. She is a good, smart girl and had no intent to harm
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Expensive error: Ashleigh Hicks at home in Somerville with the work-issued box cutter that could threaten her future career as a disability support worker.
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anyone,” he said. He said a verbal warning would have been appropriate. “We can’t believe it has gone so far. The fine could have been withdrawn on the day she was searched when it was explained why she had the cutter. The officer who reviewed the case weeks later could have withdrawn the notice after seeing the letters we sent. Even the police minister Peter Ryan said on the news the other night that he thought commonsense should prevail.” Mother Trudy Hicks said they had been given conflicting advice by lawyers and police. “We just want to make sure Ashleigh does not get a conviction that would impact on her career.” Mrs Hicks also works in the disability sector. The teenager has received support from a wide circle, including a lawyer who contacted Channel 10 and offered to represent her free of charge if the case goes to court. The meeting with Mr Galbally this week also carries no charge. Mr Hicks has spoken with a senior executive at Kmart’s head office who, he said, was liaising with Mr Galbally and was happy to help. The incident occurred at about 2pm on Friday 25 February when Ms Hicks was walking into the station to catch a train to the city to visit friends. She was stopped by a transit police officer and her bag searched. Inside was her work box cutter, which the officer told her was a prohibited weapon. “I thought he was joking at first, but then realised how serious it was. I explained why I had it, but this had no effect. I couldn’t believe it when he wrote out an on-the-spot fine for $1000. I burst into tears,” she said. “When I found out later the infringement could threaten by chances of getting work, I was even more upset.” Continued Page 9
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