Barry Manilow may battle boy racers

Barry Manilow

Boy racers and rowdy teenagers involved in disorderly behaviour in Nelson may soon be confronted with a cutting edge crime tool: American crooner Barry Manilow.

Nelson police and the city council are thinking about using the "Manilow method" to disperse the unsocial groups from the inner-city Buxton Square carpark, The Nelson Mail reported today.

The method involves playing Manilow and other easy-listening tunes through speakers in central city public spaces to discourage young people from loitering.

The approach has been employed by police in England and Australia, and could soon be in Whangarei and Nelson.

Nelson police and councillors were considering the method in response to the inner-city carpark which borders several inner-city bars and has been the scene of fights and disorderly behaviour.

A court judge once described it as a "gladiatorial arena".

Senior Sergeant Tony Bernards told the newspaper Nelson police were working with the council, inner-city residents and businesses to improve safety and the Manilow method was one tactic being considered.

Sports Cafe manager Craig Bradford suggested police set up a a police post like the one in Christchurch's Cathedral Square and said the Manilow method wouldn't work because boy racers would just "pump up" their own stereos.

- NZPA