Police turn to Facebook in graffiti battle (From Craven Herald)

Police turn to Facebook in graffiti battle

11:40am Saturday 27th June 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

Crimefighters in Skipton are using social networking site Facebook to help combat graffiti in children’s playgrounds.

The Safer Neighbourhood Police Team is appealing for young “friends” via the internet to help them catch culprits who have daubed lurid images on play equipment using spray paint and permanent markers.

Skipton’s Sgt Paul Cording, who has posted an appeal on Facebook, said he hoped to trace offenders using information in “tags”, which are used as a form of signature on graffiti.

The pioneering move has been welcomed by Skipton Town Council, which employs a playground officer to make daily checks of play areas.

Sgt Cording said there had been a marked increase in “crude” graffiti in Skipton, with parks and children’s play areas being targeted in particular.

“Using Facebook is just a different way of reaching our target audience and young people can be the hardest to reach,” he said. “We don’t expect to be contacted via Facebook by anyone over 65 or under 18, just as you wouldn’t have many young people at a Neighbourhood Watch meeting.”

Sgt Cording said culprits would be prosecuted for criminal damage and would face a hefty fine. He said the graffiti had serious implications for the image of the town.

“We’ve had some really horrible acts of graffiti using vulgar and abusive language and sexual imagery, particularly at the skateboard park in Aireville Park,” he said. “The graffiti reflects badly on other children, but we know it’s the minority which spoil it for everyone else.

“This not only looks unsightly, it also makes some residents and visitors feel unsafe. When people see graffiti, for some reason people start thinking it’s acceptable to leave litter there and the whole thing snowballs.”

Skipton Town Council chief officer Dave Parker said cleaning up graffiti cost the council thousands of pounds a year and the problem had become worse.

The Ginnel playground, off Newmarket Street, has recently come under attack.

“Recently there was graffiti at that playground five nights out of seven,” said Mr Parker.

“Sometimes the graffiti can include offensive language and so it’s important to remove it before children see it. It costs us a fortune every year to remove graffiti. It’s crucial to remove it as fast as possible, within 24 to 48 hours, otherwise it can be impossible to get off and can cause permanent damage to equipment.

“We had one instance where there was graffiti the full length of a slide and we couldn’t get it off, so the slide had to be taken out of service.”

Sgt Cording said the Facebook site would be used for other initiatives and appeals, together with news on police successes.

Anyone with information about graffiti can contact Skipton Police using the Group option on Facebook. You can also email SNTcraven@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.