Decision made on Boobs parade

Boobs on Bikes promoter Steve Crow will not be prosecuted for his parade through downtown last month but the city council intends to make it tougher next time.

Mayor Stuart Crosby said the council agreed to review the parade section of the street use bylaw but backed off taking Mr Crow to court.

The debate was taken in the public excluded section of Monday's council meeting because councillors were discussing the grounds on whether or not to take a prosecution.

The grounds to prosecute would have been that Mr Crow did not lodge a parade traffic management plan and that there had been a minor bit of disorder.

"On balance, a prosecution would not have achieved much," the mayor told the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday.

There were no grounds to prosecute on the basis it was offensive because of existing case law on nudity in public places.

The vote not to prosecute was won by about a two-thirds majority.

The council agreed to tighten up the grey area in the bylaw highlighted by the Boobs on Bikes parade.

"That is the most productive way forward," Mr Crosby said.

The review would be carried out early next year, with the draft going out for public consultation.

It would revolve around public safety and the need to make sure the parade was a safe environment, the mayor said.

Mr Crosby said there needed to be a clear understanding of what was required for a parade permit.