Editorial: When clowns go bad

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

KILLER clowns. You couldn't make it up.

The craze for people in clown costumes to jump out and scare the bejesus out of passers-by has swept through the United States and now Britain.

The unsettling fad has spread to other countries, including Australia, and in the UK there has been a worrying spike in clown-related calls to the police.

Like most police forces, the British bobbies have better things to do than waste their time dealing with malicious pranksters.

They have warned that "clowns" using costumes to scare, intimidate or harm innocent members of the public could face arrest.

While some turn to the forces of law and order, others have taken matters into their own hands. One avenger in the north of England has donned a Batman outfit and vowed to chase down the creepy clowns.

You couldn't make it up ... as Nigel Adams, the Tory MP for Selby and Ainsty, told reporters: "Hollywood has taken a sinister turn with its interpretation of the clown in recent years and if this is, in turn, coming on to our streets, where people are dressing up to intimidate members of the public, then clearly this needs some thought."

Reading this, my mind immediately went back to international man of mystery Austin Powers and his seemingly irrational fear of sideshow "carneys".

And, of course, there has been the backlash, with a "Clowns Lives Matter" group being formed to combat some of the negative views about this sub-culture.

So far there has only been one reported "clown" incident in New Zealand, and none in Whanganui ... even though some people reckon we have a few clowns around here.

But what is behind it?

A conspiracy theorist might link this alarming activity to news that the World Clown Association's convention is being held in Bangkok next year, and this week it opened for registrations.

You couldn't make it up. The Mandarin Hotel, March 27-31, is the place to be for "clown education and competitions".

The Chronicle was informed this week: "By covering this event you will be contributing to the future of all clown entertainers by providing a positive view of the people behind the makeup. They provide laughter in a world that truly needs jocularity."

Amen, Coco.