A teenager who plastered his Astley estate in unsightly graffiti ‘tags’ has made amends by cleaning up the damage he caused.
The 15 year-old gave up a full day of the recent half-term holidays to go out and about with Wigan Council’s graffiti-busting team on a clean-up operation. But in return he saved himself a run-in with the criminal justice system.
When the council’s new neighbourhood team for Atherton and Tyldesley started to receive complaints about the spray-painted scrawl that was blighting the community it decided to take action.
Team leader Pat Shacklock takes up the tale:
“Graffiti is one of those low-level crimes which has a great nuisance value and can only get worse if left unchecked.
“Whilst it’s fair to say it’s not a big problem in the area at present we were beginning to receive complaints from the local community about particular areas where street furniture was being targeted so we decided to see what we could do.”
Neighbourhood officers Matt Ormrod and Fiona France went out to see the vandalism at first hand and using local sources quickly tracked down the culprit.
“It was quite easy to identify who was doing this through their graffiti signature or tag,” says Matt. “At some place they had even written their name.
“When we went to see the young person at home there was even some of the same graffiti-writing close by.
“Presented with all the evidence Greater Manchester Police paid a visit to the young persons home where he admitted to the police what he had been doing and agreed that it was wrong. Rather than make him face a prosecution for this we decided it would be best to let him see how big a problem it can be and give him the chance to make good on his mistake. His parents were very supportive and pleased that he would not be facing criminal proceedings.”
Accompanied by Matt and Atherton-based police officer PC John Quigley, the young man took to the streets to clean up after himself.
PC Quigley says:
“Full credit to the young man for owning up and wanting to put things right. We wanted him to see that graffiti isn’t a victimless crime and because it’s the council that cleans up we all end up paying for it. It was also an eyesore in the very community where the young man lives so I think he has learnt his lesson.
“The young man has since expressed an interest in art so we are now looking at ways we can work with him to channel his creative energies into something a bit more constructive.”
The council’s graffiti-busting team is at work all week across the borough cleaning up after inconsiderate scrawlers. It can cost up to £20 per metre to get rid of the mess.
Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Kevin Anderson, says:
“We cannot afford to let this type of vandalism take a hold in our communities and we are sending out a clear message that it will not be tolerated. I would urge anyone who witnesses such acts of vandalism to let the police know.
“The young person did the right thing in owning up to their mistake and we are all really pleased that they decided to do the right thing and put the damage right.
“Whist it is no excuse to blame such actions on boredom or having nothing to do, we have seen that by working with young people we can direct them away from this type of behaviour and put their talents to use in more positive ways.”
