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Western Port
NOW PUBLISHED WEEKLY TO SERVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
THE HISTORY OF YOUR SCHOOL
PAGES 12–13 FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGES 42–45 SPORTS DESK
PAGE 47
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13 March – 19 March 2012
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Police set graffiti tag net POLICE believe they are closing in on some of the most prolific and visible graffiti taggers in the Hastings, Baxter and Somerville areas. Some tags, or signatures, have made many appearances on public and private property, and Acting Sergeant Peter Howe of Hastings police has warned that anyone caught tagging “will be charged”. “This is a serious issue and we need the public to understand that graffiti is a criminal offence and very costly to the community and to property owners when it comes to cleaning it off.” Acting Sergeant Howe admits police cannot deal with the problem without help from the public. “We need public assistance to identify offenders. Apart from this being an offence, it is unsightly and gives a poor image to the towns.” He said several tags that frequently occurred would be known to quite a few people, and possibly appeared on schoolbooks. The idea behind a tag was a form of showing off and unless the author was known, the tag on its own was useless. “Tags constantly being used include ‘weezy’, ‘bufah’, ‘menace’, ‘blaze anoe’ and ‘terps’,” Acting Sergeant Howe said. Information about tags or those responsible can be emailed to hastings-uni-graffiti@police.vic.gov.au Victims of graffiti can notify police by calling 000.
Tag alert: Acting Sergeant Peter Howe is tracking prolific taggers across Hastings, Baxter and Somerville.
Teen binging problems By Keith Platt and Jo Winterbottom YOUNG people on the Mornington Peninsula and in Frankston have more alcohol-related problems than anywhere else south of Melbourne. Statistics from 10 municipalities show peninsula and Frankston youngsters are more likely to be assaulted, in road accidents, admitted to hospital or subjected to family violence. The problems they face are also well above the state average.
Mornington Peninsula Shire, described as “similar to Victoria” in socioeconomic characteristics, has a significantly higher rate of licensed premises per 10,000 people. “The rate of alcohol-related assaults of 18-24 year old residents, rates of serious road injuries in this age group and rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions in both age groups were significantly higher than Victorian rates,” according to most recent statis-
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tics from the Victorian Alcohol Statistics Handbook. “Slightly disadvantaged” Frankston has fewer licensed premises per 10,000 young people, but they “experienced significantly higher rates of alcohol-related assaults, family incidents and alcoholrelated hospital admissions in both age groups as well as higher rates of serious road injuries in 18-24 year olds”. The statistics show more than 30 per cent of secondary students binge
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drink each week and a disproportionate number of young people end up in hospital because of alcohol. The statistics and ways of avoiding the harm and injury caused to young people by excessive drinking will be presented next week to parents at a seminar in Carrum Downs. The seminar, the only one in the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston region, is one of 10 being held throughout the state over the next two months
Continued on Page 9
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by the Australian Drug Foundation. Western Port Secondary College student welfare coordinator Tim Ward said binge drinking among teens was part of a widespread “party culture”. “Alcohol and drug use is an issue, but I couldn’t say it is any worse in Hastings than elsewhere,” he said. “We are not seeing kids slipping out to drink at lunchtime; it is at parties on the weekend.”
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