Lilith
10-23-2002, 10:18 AM
A BLACKPOOL councillor determined to clean up the town's sleazy image is calling on the resort to follow a rival holiday area's lead and ban saucy rock novelties.
Mary Smith, who represents Foxhall ward, says Blackpool should take a leaf out of Southport's book and launch a crackdown on obscene confectionery sold in seafront stores.
Sweet shop bosses in Southport were furious after police ordered them to remove the rude sweets from public view.
The manager of the Southport Rock Shop, who did not wish to be named, said: "Two male officers came in here and ordered me to take all the rock willies out of the window.
"They said the rock boobs could stay because they hadn't received any complaints about them."
"I am absolutely fuming. I can't believe, with all the youth crime and shoplifting that goes on here, the police are choosing to spend their time worrying about rock willies."
Here in Blackpool, where several seafront shops sell the same saucy rock shapes, Coun Mary Smith is calling for the police to take the same stance as their Southport counterparts. She said: "These items are disgusting and give the town a bad image. Who wants to see this sort of thing when they are walking along the promenade with their children? It's OK for the stag and hen parties but it's putting the families off.
"If the police can do this in Southport why can't they do it here? I have already spoken to the chief executive about this. If we have got to get a byelaw to do this then let's get one."
Mary Smith, who represents Foxhall ward, says Blackpool should take a leaf out of Southport's book and launch a crackdown on obscene confectionery sold in seafront stores.
Sweet shop bosses in Southport were furious after police ordered them to remove the rude sweets from public view.
The manager of the Southport Rock Shop, who did not wish to be named, said: "Two male officers came in here and ordered me to take all the rock willies out of the window.
"They said the rock boobs could stay because they hadn't received any complaints about them."
"I am absolutely fuming. I can't believe, with all the youth crime and shoplifting that goes on here, the police are choosing to spend their time worrying about rock willies."
Here in Blackpool, where several seafront shops sell the same saucy rock shapes, Coun Mary Smith is calling for the police to take the same stance as their Southport counterparts. She said: "These items are disgusting and give the town a bad image. Who wants to see this sort of thing when they are walking along the promenade with their children? It's OK for the stag and hen parties but it's putting the families off.
"If the police can do this in Southport why can't they do it here? I have already spoken to the chief executive about this. If we have got to get a byelaw to do this then let's get one."