£500 to dob the daubers

Sep 16 2004 By Neil Atkinson, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

"If that person is arrested, then charged with criminal damage, the caller can claim a £500 reward.

"It is as simple as that and the caller always remains anonymous."

Each council, including Kirklees, will create posters of the most commonly seen graffiti tags, which will be displayed in shops in the worst affected areas.

The information passed to Crimestoppers will be followed up locally by the Anti-Social Behaviour Units, consisting of police officers and council officials.

Crimestoppers is also appealing to shops selling artist's paint, permanent marker pens or cans of car paint to think carefully about who they are selling to.

Det Con Mosley said: "If a youth comes into your shop to buy a can of car paint, ask yourself why - particularly if they don't even look old enough to drive.

"You can help play an important part in cutting graffiti."

Clr Ann Raistrick, Kirklees Council's Cabinet member for supporting communities, and also chairwoman of the Kirklees Safer Communities Partnership Board, said: "The council and its partners have many initiatives to act on graffiti as quickly as possible.

"This includes a rapid response team to remove offensive graffiti.

"Another aspect is initiatives to try and prevent graffiti in the first place, such as working with partners on the proof-of-age scheme, to reduce the opportunities of spray paints being sold to under-age children.

"Graffiti is a terrible blight and a serious environmental issue," added Clr Raistrick.