Sponsored by
Police hunt graffiti artists
Police have issued photographs of graffiti which is blighting buildings around Tring in a bid to catch the teenagers responsible.
Teachers at Tring School have been given images of the graffiti 'tags' so that they can search school books for the markings.
And parents are being urged to check their children's bedrooms for drawings of the distinctive signs.
PC Stephen Hunneysett said: "As far as I'm aware we have never had so much graffiti. It's a big issue together with antisocial behaviour. When you look at buildings and you see graffiti on them, it doesn't look nice.
"Tring School has been given the photographs which have been put up in the staff room for teachers to have a look at to see if they recognise any of the tags."
Police are building up a case to catch those responsible for three different tags which have appeared across the town. These are variations of the words same and trouble and the initials TYPC.
PC Hunneysett said: "They will be using these tags all the time and they will write them in their school books. Even the parents might see it in their child's bedroom."
He said this is the most serious case of graffiti in the town since 2004, when a 17-year-old boy admitted to more than 20 graffiti attacks. He signed the name Paso on spots around the town but was tracked down by police when the tag was spotted in his bedroom.
The latest graffiti vandals have repeatedly defaced an alleyway between Mortimer Hill and Station Road, the Miswell Lane recreational ground, a walkway in Pound Meadow, Church Yard, and Sutton Court.
Eight incidents of graffiti in Tring were reported to police in just two months from September 1 and November 1.
PC Hunneysett said: "It is a criminal offence and can cost thousands of pounds to rectify it.
"We are still making enquiries but what we need is some more evidence. We have got a few names. Someone somewhere must know something."
Police and council bosses are also looking into ways to combat antisocial behaviour around Tring's Community Centre after a spate of attacks on the building.
In October a lit firework was posted through the letterbox causing damage to the carpet.
And earlier in the year around 10 windows were smashed in just one week during the school summer holiday period.
The centre's manager Angelika Kubik said: "At the moment I have got the letter box locked so we can't use it. There are lots of teenage groups walking around and I just don't think they have anything to do."
Sarah Jones, a spokesman for the council said: "We are looking at the possibilities of removing a bench behind the community shelter where youths have been reported to be gathering and relocating it beside a five-a-side/basketball pitch about 30 metres away at the bottom of the hill.
"Affected local residents have been asked to provide details of any antisocial behaviour to us in writing."
If you have any information about the graffiti or antisocial behaviour call the police non-emergency number on 0845 3300222 or Tring Police Station on 01442 271205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US, TELL US YOUR NEWS, TELL US YOUR VIEWS ETC ON THE NEWS
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
