Help identify graffiti vandals

10:18am Thursday 5th October 2006

NEWS Shopper readers are being asked to Shop a Tagger in a crackdown on graffiti in the Lewisham area.

Last year Lewisham Council removed 25,335 square metres of graffiti at a cost of over £275,000.

Hotspots include: Bankfoot, Rushey Green, Lee Green and Brockley.

It usually takes three hours to remove graffiti with specialised graffiti equipment, with a team of eight staff working five days a week on the problem.

If anyone can identify a tag they should ring enviro-call on 020 8314 7171 and ask to be put through to the graffiti team. Residents can also visit the LoveLewisham website

A new anti-graffiti coating is also being applied to shops and businesses across the borough.

The new coating will be applied for the first time on Monday to launch Anti-Graffiti Week.

More than 200 shops and businesses around the borough will benefit from the anti-graffiti paint.

Councillor Susan Wise, cabinet member for customer services, said: "Graffiti takes a lot of time, effort and money to remove and is an eyesore that ruins the environment of an area.

"It is a constant challenge for us to keep Lewisham free from graffiti and that is why we are asking for the help of residents to report any taggers - all you need to do is call our hotline at enviro-call and ask for the graffiti team.

"Residents can be our eyes and ears around the borough and help keep Lewisham clean and safe to create a more pleasant living environment for everyone."

• To see the gallery of tags, click here

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