Police urged to clean up act over graffiti (From News Shopper)

Police urged to clean up act over graffiti

9:45am Tuesday 12th August 2008

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A DISGRUNTLED councillor says graffiti is not being treated seriously enough by police, claiming officers do not consider it to be a crime.

Petts Wood and Knoll Councillor Simon Fawthrop says he will even take his case to the Commissioner of the Met Police, Sir Ian Blair, and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith if his complaints continue to fall on deaf ears.

But Bromley police borough commander Charles Griggs says graffiti is treated as a crime.

Cllr Fawthrop, who is a serving magistrate of 22 years, tried to report 39 items of graffiti in his ward, but says police did not consider them to be crimes.

The Tory also says the Government should make it an offence to be in possession of a spray can in public.

He said: "Police don't treat it seriously enough.

"I think you will find most people think it is a crime."

Cllr Fawthrop, who was a nominee for the Conservative candidacy at this year's London Mayor elections, says every time a piece of graffiti is cleaned up, it costs the taxpayer around £25.

The majority of graffiti he found was daubed on dustbins and telephone cable boxes.

Cllr Fawthrop, of Monarch Close, Coney Hall, West Wickham, said: "If police want to do something about the fear of crime, they need to take issues like graffiti seriously. "

Mr Griggs has already offered to meet Cllr Fawthrop to discuss the problem.

He said: "I have explained to Cllr Fawthrop the agreed protocols which exist between us and the council for reporting graffiti, and what is needed to record incidents as a crime.

"I am disappointed that, as a representative of the people of Petts Wood and Knoll Ward, he is unaware of the excellent partnership work which has been happening involving the council in tackling graffiti.

"Bromley police do not tolerate graffiti and criminal damage. We have a positive arrest policy for these offences.

"He should work with me, not against me."

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