Graffiti Bill Tops £50,000

Graffiti vandals who made their mark on buildings across the city have caused more than £50,000 worth of damage. Police have arrested two men on suspicion of causing criminal damage after a tip-off from a member of the public. One of the suspected vandals used the tag “Doc” on walls while the other used “Dobe” as his calling card. The pair, aged 22 and 18, have been released on bail pending further inquiries. Police are now hunting a third graffiti lout who sprays the moniker CST - which stands for a gang called Coventry Saints - onto buildings in the city. PC Heidi Portrey said that graffiti had caused more than £50,000 worth of damage to public buildings and thousands more to private properties. Coventry City Council has pledged to crackdown on graffiti. The authority is working with the police and city centre management company CV One to remove it and pursue those responsible. Coventry’s Community Safety Partnership, which co-ordinates action against crime and disorder, said that a number of anti-graffiti initiatives are already in the pipeline. A spokesman for the partnership said: “Graffiti is an eye-sore which gives people the impression that no-one cares about their community and surroundings. “Tackling graffiti is an important part of the work of various agencies in Coventry to make the city a safer - and make it feel a safer place to live, work and visit.” The partnership is to use Government funding to coat walls and buildings with a special anti-graffiti material in some parts of the city. New anti-social behaviour laws give local authorities the power to hand £50 fixed penalty fines to graffiti painters and it will soon be illegal for shopkeepers to sell spray paints to under 16s. Police are appealing for anyone with information about graffiti vandals to contact the city centre crime fighting team on 0845 1135000.