Trial by (social) media
Facebook might be facing its own problems at the moment, but it came into its own during the recent police chase through Warkworth after a hit and run at Hill Street. Since the fleeing offender opted to head straight into the town centre, the entire incident was witnessed by countless locals, many of whom provided a virtual running commentary on proceedings on local Facebook pages, right up to when he was apprehended by police knee-deep in the low-tide mud of the Mahurangi River. One wag wondered if this might speed up funding for the much-needed dredging, while others poked gentle fun at the police’s redaction methods – the digital equivalent of a nasty Tippex spill – when they later reproduced Mahurangi Matters’ photo of officers taking the man into custody. “Police brutality, they ‘rubbed him out’ …” wrote one, while another made a plea for restraint: “Guys … come on … just use handcuffs instead of 20 rolls of toilet paper next time.”