By Matt Rickard
The fight against graffiti is to be stepped up with the latest in a series of innovations aimed at cleaning up Merton.
The council already employs a two-strong special task force that deals solely with the problem and has just been selected to pilot a scheme that will give it new powers in the fight against the menace that costs taxpayers hundred of thousands of pounds each year.
Pat DeJesus heads up the team, ably assisted by Tom Solan.
She said: "We are very excited to have been invited by the Home Office to be one of 12 local authorities who will test the use of the graffiti removal powers in the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003."
According to Mrs DeJesus the act gives councils provision to serve "graffiti removal notices" on the owners of street furniture and educational institutions whose property is defaced with graffiti.
She said: "When this comes into play in a few weeks it will give us the authority to force utility companies to clean up their street furniture."
To achieve this, the anti-graffiti team tours schools and engages children in discussions about the issues surrounding graffiti.
To support the team's work, Merton Council has arranged to clean graffiti free of charge from small shop parades.
So far Martin Way, Grand Drive, Rowan Road, Green Lane and West Barnes Lane have all been treated as the scheme is rolled out across the borough.