Graffiti Tags.
Norwich police are cracking down on graffiti taggers
Peter Walsh
Thursday, June 9, 2011
6:30 AM
On day four of the Evening News’ Graffitibusters campaign PETER WALSH looks at how police have launched a crackdown to target the rising number of taggers spoiling this fine city.
Those responsible for blighting the city with their graffiti tags are being targeted as part of a new police crackdown.
The City Centre Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) has vowed to treat graffiti as one of its priorities over the next few months.
Members of the public are being urged to be the eyes and the ears of the police and help supply them with information about those responsible for spraying the tags. As part of the crackdown Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have been carrying out an audit of graffiti tags in the city to establish where the worst affected areas are – and who is responsible.
Inspector Chris Brooks of the City Centre Safer Neighbourhoods Team said as a result of the audit they have discovered a number of taggers at work in the city – including Shook which has become an increasingly common sight.
Tags commonly found in the city centre include ATS, ACAB, ANOYS, SNIZ, TIMS, SPY, PEG, PEGLLEG, HALO, XPN!, QUIR and SHOOK.
Insp Brooks said there are “prosecutions pending” against people believed to be responsible for graffiti tags found in the city, but added that they need support from the public in catching offenders in the act.
He said: “We don’t need to be told where it is because the audit by PCSOs has been done over the past six weeks and we will address them one at a time. What we would like to know is if anyone has any information regarding suspects.”
In addition to being a problem in the city centre, Insp Brooks said there were other tagging hot spots on the outskirts of the city, including places like Earlham Road and Dereham Road.
Julian Foster, chairman of the City Centre Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel, said as it has been adopted as a priority, more resources will be put into trying to solve the problem of graffiti over the coming months.
He said: “As a priority it provides us with a window in which we can use police resources legitimately to deal with all this and that’s why we want to get together with the public in terms of donations of paint and offers of help to help paint out graffiti.”
Mr Foster said graffiti may well stay on as a priority beyond the next few months, depending on whether it has been deemed to have been dealt with or it remains a concern for people in the area.
In addition to wanting information about possible suspects police and the SNT are also looking for people to help clean up some of the existing graffiti by donating paint, money for paint or their time.
Volunteers are needed to take part in the first clean up date which takes place on Wednesday, June 15 at Tombland, near the toilets. Protective clothing will be provided but volunteers for the event, which takes place between 6pm and 9pm, are advised to wear old clothes. Insp Chris Brooks said it will be followed by further events on June 22 and 26 and July 3 with venues and exact times yet to be decided.
Sergeant Peter Sharples of the City Centre Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) said the campaign has had support from a number of members of the public who want to see less graffiti in the city.
He said: “I think most people when you ask them would prefer to have an environment which isn’t polluted with graffiti. There’s places where people can express themselves – the council does provide various places – and with negotiation that could happen elsewhere.” Sgt Sharples said the damage that was done to buildings as a result of graffiti was unacceptable and hoped to help clear it off and keep it off for good as part of a series of clean-ups, starting with the event at Tombland. He added: “Once we’ve done it we will keep on going back, get people to paint it out and look after their own city centre.”
To see why not all graffiti is anti-social see tomorrow’s Evening News.
Have you got a story for the Graffitibusters campaign? Call Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk
Have you got a picture of graffiti? Email picdesk@archant.co.uk
Graffiti doesn’t have to be anti-social – find out how in tomorrow’s Evening News.
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7 comments
Graffiti to some is nothing more than another facet of the urban jungle we live in. It's adornment on buidlings and walls could be mirrored to that of modern day cave drawings, depicting messages and slogans of a society where materialism and greed reign strong. Ask yourself this - Does graffiti sexually abuse young children behind closed doors? No! Does graffiti beat up an individual on their way home from the pub & steal their mobile phone? No! Graffiti is merely a layer of paint, no more than half a millimeter thick painted onto a surface of a building or wall - it does not cause any damage at all. Infact if there is any damage to be done, it is the use of the high powered pressure washers and harmful chemicals used to clean it that cause the most harm. The Oxford Dictionary defines damage as, "inflicting physical harm on (something or someone) so as to impair its usefulness or normal function." Graffiti does niether of these things and it is only in the eye of the beholder that this "damage" is detrimental. I think Norwich City has far greater issues and discrepancies that require the attention of the council and it's affiliates before this "war on graffiti" is waged - and at the tax payer's expense too.
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Crez One
Monday, June 13, 2011
Graffiti to some is nothing more than another facet of the urban jungle we live in. It's adornment on buidlings and walls could be mirrored to that of modern day cave drawings, depicting messages and slogans of a society where materialism and greed reign strong. Ask yourself this - Does graffiti sexually abuse young children behind closed doors? No! Does graffiti beat up an individual on their way home from the pub & steal their mobile phone? No! Graffiti is merely a layer of paint, no more than half a millimeter thick painted onto a surface of a building or wall - it does not cause any damage at all. Infact if there is any damage to be done, it is the use of the high powered pressure washers and harmful chemicals used to clean it that cause the most harm. The Oxford Dictionary defines damage as, "inflicting physical harm on (something or someone) so as to impair its usefulness or normal function." Graffiti does niether of these things and it is only in the eye of the beholder that this "damage" is detrimental. I think Norwich City has far greater issues and discrepancies that require the attention of the council and it's affiliates before this "war on graffiti" is waged - and at the tax payer's expense too.
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Crez One
Monday, June 13, 2011
I agree with morello, don't ask for volunteers get those on community service to clean up after all they are supposed to be repaying their community for the crimes they have committed. And make them wear fluorescent jackets with community payback written on the back, so people know who they are. I am fed up with criminals getting away scott free
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purplefreesia
Saturday, June 11, 2011
why dont they get offenders ie people doing community service to clean this graffiti up,
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morello
Friday, June 10, 2011
"Look after your own city" I am sorry but why do we pay taxes if the citizens are then going to have to do the work. Maybe we could arrange our own rubbish collection and Policing next - oh no I think that is called the Big Society - people doing everything for free!
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kevin rymell
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Volunteers? Hello what are people in this city paying council tax for? Seems this council does less and less for the council tax, maybe we should ask for a partial refund!
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chebram71
Thursday, June 9, 2011
I,ve got a good idea.Why not make everywhere a "Tolerence Zone" for Graffitti,and then none would have to be cleaned off,saving millions,the Police would,nt have to "crack down" and the taggers could follow their task free of being slapped on the wrist
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Albert Cooper
Thursday, June 9, 2011