13-year-old made to clean graffiti from play area


19 December 2009 08:00



Offensive graffiti has been removed from a Gorleston play area as part of a young offender's punishment.

Dressed in a high-visibility jacket, the 13-year-old cleaned graffiti from a play area on the Magdalen estate in full view of the public.

The clean-up serves as the teenager's punishment for an assault he committed earlier in the year.

The offender - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - said the punishment had made him think about his actions and will encourage him to steer away from committing crime in the future.

Tracey Jarvis, reparation worker with the Norfolk Youth Offending Team (YOT), supervised the clean-up.

She said: “This type of punishment aims to payback the community. It helps make the offender see the wrong of their ways and understand the impact their actions can have on the community.”

Norfolk police is working closely with Norfolk YOT as part of Operation Clean Sweep.

Insp Alun Gibbs, who leads the Magdalen neighbourhood policing team, said: “The idea is to create closer links with the YOT and work on projects which will improve the environment for the local community.

“The operation aims to target issues such as graffiti, which can have a major impact on the local environment and cause concern among members of the community.”

The force has spent £500 on graffiti cleaning materials and equipment. Young offenders might also be tasked with painting and gardening or helping in charity shops and animal rescue centres.

Insp Gibbs said: “Community punishment makes the offender understand there are consequences to committing crime and it also helps in educating the young person about appropriate behaviour.”

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