Punch and Judy were facing the final chop last night (Thursday) as a Bodmin Town Council committee decided whether or not to stop future funding of shows starring the traditional puppets. The promotions committee has been recommended to stop paying for the entertainment following complaints that the truncheon beating scenes could encourage violence. Committee chairman Councillor Michelle Griffiths said you only had to look at the plot to see how violent it was. The director of Bodmin based Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre said it was appalling that children were encouraged to watch a woman being beaten up with a stick. However Councillor Terry Hocking, a former Mayor of Bodmin, said he would resign from the committee if the ban on funding was approved, dubbing it as 'absolutely ridiculous.'
