Police have high hopes of cracking graffiti ‘case’
POLICE have arrested one teenager and further detentions are expected in connection with a spate of graffiti incidents at North Baddesley. The word "case" has been sprayed in paint across buildings, road signs and other property in the village during the last two months.
More than 60 graffiti attacks have been carried out and the majorty have featured the word "case".
Shops and premises in Fleming Avenue, Six Oaks Road and Botley Road and the Scout HQ in in Mountbatten Park have all been sprayed.
The Scout hut was left bearing the message "Nursling boys rule" all over the building.
Trees, phone boxes and street signs around the village have also been targeted. The police describe the incidents as "tags", where people leave their personal marks.
"There is a lot of it, but thankfully the graffiti is not abusive or offensive," said Romsey's police chief, Inspector Bernadette Smith.
She confirmed this week that one young person of secondary school age had been arrested and released on bail while further investigations are carried out.
"There are likely to be further arrests. We are looking forward to a good result," said Insp Smith.
North Baddesley Parish Council chairman, David Knight, said every street in the village had been affected and the problem had become much worse in the last month. "From intelligence, we are getting, there are only a few youngsters behind it all," said Cllr Knight.
"It is costing a lot of money to remove all the graffiti and the sooner those responsible are caught, the better. One of the problems we have is the graffiti is painted or a removed one day and they are back the next night doing it again.
"We are getting hit by Nursling and Rownhams youths, as well as those from North Baddesley. They are leaving their personal marks everywhere.
"The Scout hut has paint sprayed all the way around it We had it cleaned off one night and a couple of days later, they came back and did it again. The pavilion and the skatepark at the recreation ground and al-cable TV junction boxes in the village have been sprayed."
He said the parish council had bought special chemicals to remove the paint and a team from Hampshire County Council are helping with the clean-up using special equipment.
4:33pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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