Wall call to curb tagging in Bromsgrove

Apr 3 2008 By Paul Bradley

GRAFFITI artists should be given a spray wall to use in Bromsgrove, a councillor claimed today.

The call came after a series of vandal attacks in Bromsgrove and Rubery on public buildings.

The latest incidents saw the skate park in Lyttleton Avenue, South Bromsgrove High School, an industrial estate and town alleyways all defaced with graffiti tags.

The damage is now estimated to be more than £2,000.

Peter McDonald, Labour Group leader in Bromsgrove, said: "Graffiti is expensive and it brings areas down.

"People see it on buildings and assume the town is rundown, which is simply not the case.

"I have asked for funding for a graffiti wall in Rubery so young people who see it as a skill have somewhere to express themselves legally.

"Anyone who is caught vandalising property with graffiti should be made to do community service so they realise the effect they have on the neighbourhoods they deface."

The news comes after two youths, aged 15 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of causing a spate of graffiti in Bromsgrove.

PC Greg Moorman, of Bromsgrove Police, said: "The items on which graffiti had been sprayed included walls, vans, and doors, and at least £2,000 to £3,000 worth of damage has been caused.

"The graffiti was mainly the 'tag' or nickname Milnzy in either red or black, or in some cases both red and black," he said.

"There may be other victims whose property has been damaged but have not reported it, and we would very much like to hear from them."

Anyone with further information can call PC Moorman or Sgt Steve Tristram on 08457 444888 or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.