Putting the bleep into T-shirts

JONATHAN CAMERON/Taranaki Daily News

GETTING SHIRTY: Shop owner Phil Jones with the T-shirt police asked him to remove from his shop window yesterday.

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Clothing shop owner Phil Jones is angry police asked him to remove his most popular T-shirt from his front window because of complaints.

The slogan on the shirt reads "New f...... Plymouth" and yesterday a community constable visited the store yesterday asking Mr Jones to pull it from the shop front.

New Plymouth District Council team leader environmental health Murray Clearwater said council received complaints about the shirts.

Bylaws prohibit displaying "objectionable" items and signs in public places.

While the store was private property, the front window displayed out to a public place so the council asked police to intervene, Mr Clearwater said.

But Mr Jones said the shirt was not offensive but "positive, with a bit of attitude" about the town.

Mr Jones has given copies to New Zealand music artists like Natalia Scott (aka MC Tali) and bands Shapeshifter and Salmonella Dub to wear overseas to promote the region.

Male model Hunter McLeod wore the shirt at charity fashion show for CanTeen in July.

"This is about freedom of speech, here's something that's pro-New Plymouth that I've got to New York, London, Australia," Mr Jones said.

"I've had over 300 made and I've nearly sold 300."

Constable Toni Haggart said she approached Mr Jones yesterday and asked him to remove the T-shirts and he obliged.

"I heard from council that they're taking complaints. One person in particular had a child and didn't think it was appropriate."

Ms Haggart said displaying the T-shirts inside the shop was different, as people could make the choice to go inside.

Mr Jones returned the T-shirt to his front window late yesterday afternoon, with the offensive word covered by censored stickers.

- © Fairfax NZ News