Graffiti Clampdown
| Published: 1st May 2007 21:48 |
30 April 2007
19 GRAFFITI VANDALS ARRESTED IN COUNTYWIDE CRACKDOWN
Already 19 graffiti vandals have been arrested since the launch of the South Yorkshire ‘Name That Tag' Council, Police and Crimestoppers graffiti campaign began six weeks ago.
The four South Yorkshire local authorities have worked in partnership with South Yorkshire Police and Crimestoppers by offering up to £1,000 cash rewards for information that leads to graffiti vandals being arrested and charged.
The quality of the call, which includes names, locations and definition of the tag have proved to be excellent intelligence for the Police to act upon. This has led to 19 arrests with a total of 39 offences being admitted. In the coming weeks more arrests are planned throughout the region.
DC Kevin Mosley of Yorkshire and Humberside Crimestoppers said: "With the public's help we can continue to create communities where vandals fear to commit damage in any form. The vandal needs to look out because the public are now willing to ring Crimestoppers with anonymity and give details of who are offending.
"The campaign has set off at a terrific pace with detailed intelligence being passed to Crimestoppers. We would like to thank the public for their excellent information. This was highlighted with one individual who admitted 12 offences of graffiti to the Police when he was arrested.
"What we want now is the public in all South Yorkshire to continue the good work of passing on information. We also want the people who have knowledge of criminal activity, and are still unsure how to pass it on, to use Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and nobody else will know that they have made that call, they are anonymous. Hopefully this will then cut the levels of graffiti vandalism within our communities."
John Charlton, Director of Sheffield Council's Street Force commented: "We are really encouraged by the support given by the public to this campaign and, with their co-operation, we will hopefully remove this blight on the environment. Between the City Council and Sheffield Homes, we spend around £500,000 a year cleaning up graffiti - money that could be spent far better on other essential services."
All four local authorities have created posters with individual tags being displayed that need identifying and the information is followed up by Safer Neighbourhood Policing teams. The tags can also be viewed on the South Yorkshire Police web site.
Copyright © Sheffield City Council 1997 - 2007
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