Studded belts now 'weapons'
By Pip Hinman
MELBOURNE — A decision to charge a receptionist with possession of a regulated weapon by Magistrate Peter Couzens has outraged and amazed the gay and lesbian community, among others. The "weapon" in question was a studded belt.
Richard Watts, a receptionist at the Gay Men's Health Centre in Collingwood, was picked up by police in the city in early January, on the same day that mounted police had savagely charged and beaten protesters in a demonstration against US President Bush's visit to Australia.
Watts was not part of the protest. He told the June 4 Brother Sister that he was "damned sure it was a case of police harassment". Watts, who had a Mohawk haircut at the time, said he believed the police were responding to the demonstration earlier in the day and were "out to prove they run this town".
In the court hearing late last month, police did not allege that Watts was using his belt for anything other than holding up his trousers. Magistrate Couzens said he thought the charge was "bizarre" but found Watts guilty and ordered him to destroy the belt.
Under a law adopted following a Law Reform Commission review aimed at restricting the use of weapons in society, any article designed to be worn as clothing and fitted with raised studs is deemed a regulated weapon.
According to Brother Sister, retailers across Melbourne have scoffed at police warnings to take studded belts off the shelf or risk being charged.