Graffiti gallery online to help beat vandals (From Daily Echo)

Crimestoppers publishing graffiti tags directory to help stop Hampshire vandals

6:40pm Thursday 23rd July 2009 in News By Sian Davies, Senior News Reporter

Graffiti gallery online to help beat vandals

A NEW online weapon is being used in the fight against vandals.

Hampshire police have been working alongside charity Crimestoppers to create an online graffiti gallery to identify those who vandalise property.

The public is being urged to take photos of distinctive markings, called tags, and send them into Crimestoppers.

The charity can then display them in an online gallery where people can look at them and identify who may be responsible.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: “If you have a number of distinctive graffiti tags in your local neighbourhood and want the offender to be identified, then take a photo of the graffiti and send it to Crimestoppers detailing where it was taken. The photos can be uploaded to the website using the online form.”

Along with the graffiti gallery police in the county are also launching a crackdown on antisocial behaviour throughout the summer.

There will be extra police officers on patrol during the summer holidays, a time in previous years when the number of reported incidents has risen.

Emphasis will be given to alcohol-related crime, with officers confiscating alcohol from under 18s and working closely with licensees.

And to support parents across Hampshire, a leaflet that offers them advice has been produced.

The Do you know where your kids are? leaflet advises parents on a range of ways to prevent their children committing antisocial behaviour.

To view the graffiti gallery log onto crimestoppers- uk.org. If you can identify any of the tags call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the online form.