A Wicked company camper van seen in Queenstown recently has been deemed not offensive enough to warrant police action, but the complainant is being encouraged to pursue the matter.
Queenstown police received a complaint, with photos, from a resident who took offence to the van, which had wording on the rear and a cartoon drawing on one side.
When spoken to by the Otago Daily Times last week, Wicked founder and owner John Webb, speaking from Australia, said he did not find the van offensive, as the figures were ''just dancing'' and the words ''just a saying''.
Senior Constable Beth Fookes confirmed yesterday police legal advisers ''do not think the one that we have seen was objectionable enough'' under the Summary Offences Act.
''That's the judgement that they have come up with.''
Speaking as a parent, rather than a policewoman, she said she would not be comfortable with a child reading what was written on the back of the van and then asking what it suggested.
''You don't want to lie to your children, but you are being forced to change the topic.''
The original complainant was advised by police they could make a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority, which has previously dealt with 12 complaints about Wicked campers.
Two complaints were upheld and the others were either settled, resolved, had no grounds to proceed or were withdrawn.
Snr Const Fookes said she would be more than happy, as a parent, for the complaint to be taken to the authority.
The Advertising Standards Authority's Australian equivalent had also dealt with and upheld complaints.
