Offenders will clean up graffiti (From Swindon Advertiser)

Offenders will clean up graffiti

10:23am Saturday 27th January 2007 in News

A PLAYGROUND in Old Town could be the next area to benefit from an anti-graffiti campaign run by Swindon Council and the probation service.

Savernake Street children's play area was identified as one of the worst areas for graffiti in Old Town at a recent crime forum meeting organised by the Liberal Democrat Eastcott ward councillors.

It followed a spate of graffiti in the Old Town area.

In a single day last month, the Advertiser photographed more than 50 examples of graffiti in Victoria Road and the surrounding area, prompting a mass clear up by the council's anti graffiti team.

But now the council's anti-social behaviour team has promised to use its partnership with the probation service to tackle the problems in Savernake Street.

Swindon Council's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator Cheri Wright said that the clean up would be an extension of the probation service's involvement in the council's safe and clean initiative.

"We have been using probation for a long time to help us paint over walls that have graffiti.

"I've had meetings with probation and they said they would be happy to help us clear up the Savernake Street play area.

"What that means is that offenders will clear up graffiti as part of their community work. They can be all sorts of offenders, not just those who have been caught spraying graffiti."

Coun Martin Wiltshire (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said: "We support this fantastic way to clear graffiti and congratulate the council's anti-social behaviour unit for all their hard work in achieving this.

"A scheme where offenders clear graffiti saves both council tax payers' money and acts as a deterrent to would-be offenders.

"However, this does need to be backed up with good local policing.

"We understand that following our meeting one of the main graffiti culprits in the Old Town area has been arrested."

And Coun Wiltshire called on Old Town residents to offer suggestions on how to combat graffiti in the park.

He said: "We are also asking all residents in the area of the play park to seek their opinion on over-painting the wall.

"Should it be replaced with a mural? If so, what theme should it carry?

"We are also seeking residents' ideas on deterring graffiti in Old Town.

"We hope that an effort by the engaged community will help improve this area."

The problem of graffiti has worsened in Swindon over recent months.

Just a day after the mass clean up operation in Old Town, graffiti vandals struck at the former Turnpike Service Station site, turning it into an eyesore.

The former Swindon College building in Regent Circus has also been targeted in a graffiti spree.

And just before Christmas, a single youngster was blamed for a spate of graffiti attacks in Highworth.

If you spot graffiti you can contact the council by calling 01793 463463.

If you know who is responsible for it call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000.