Editorial: Girls, your venom is misplaced

Boy racers have hit the headlines yet again. Not just in Hawke's Bay but also in Christchurch.

While racers here are calling for support for a drag strip, in Christchurch word went out on Facebook that boy racers would hold a "peaceful" protest outside the Christchurch Police Station on Friday night. They were asked to assemble at 11am and the message to police: "To show that we will not tolerate the misapropriation (sic) of police powers and their complete misconduct towards boy racers and those of us out to have a goodtime [sic]".

Well you and I both know that mixing hyped-up young men, booze and a bad attitude would end in fisty-cuffs.

Six people were arrested.

No surprise there. What did surprise me was the young women shown. I was gobsmacked at the complete lack of respect for the police. They were yelling abuse, making rude suggestions with their finger and generally behaving really badly.

I'd like to ask these young people who they will call on in years to come when something bad happens to them?

Who will they call when their homes are burgled, who will they call when a friend or family member is a victim of crime?

The police, that's who.

Sometimes it seems the police are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

If they chase speeding drivers and the driver loses control and crashes, it's the police's fault.

If they abandon the chase and the driver goes on to crash and kill someone it's their fault again.

So please show some respect, the police are not the enemy.

They are there to protect and serve you and me.