Wednesday, November 22, 2006
West Yorkshire Police
Please check out the following reports from West Yorkshire Police. There is a general absence of anything that could be considered 'street art' in Leeds, but there is a proliferation of tagging and random, generally poor graffiti, which is what the police seem intent on stamping out.
However, all these articles and schemes are underscored by a very basic lack of knowledge and understanding of the subject. The terms of the debate are limiting; where do stencils, posters and stickers fit into this equation? What if some street actions provoke positive responses in communities? What if a well placed poster or stencil actually makes an area feel more safe, more attractive, more fun? There is no room, it seems, for this debate. Shame. The only plus is that most of these retaliatory actions are in response to public complaints, so if people did like what they saw, there would be no complaint, and therefore less chance of reprisal. Interesting reading.
Thursday, August 3, 2006
A group of young people will be giving a helping hand this weekend to clean up graffiti at Earlsheaton Park.
The four, from the Chickenley and Earlsheaton areas will be helping to scrub down the furniture and play equipment using materials provided by the Kirklees Park Ranger.
Also in attendance will be PCSO Joe Walshaw and PC Mike Beardsley from the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Policing Team.
PCSO Joe Walshaw, who organised the event said: “We’re delighted that the young people have offered their services this weekend.
“It sets an excellent example to other young people to get involved in doing something worthwhile in their community.
“The clean up will make the park feel safer and cleaner for those using it.
“Anyone who decides to try and spoil that by writing graffiti should be warned that we will take it seriously and do our best to find out who the offenders are.”
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Crimestoppers Cleans Up at Graffiti Awards
Yorkshire and Humber Crimestoppers are celebrating after receiving recognition for tackling of graffiti.
The regional police charity won the National 2005 Easy ONTM Award after showing the National Graffiti Association how they combated graffiti within communities and how they engaged with outside agencies to achieve this goal.
The Yorkshire and Humber Crimestoppers application included the transport crime initiative and the ‘Turn in a Tagger’ campaign.
The entry came top of the pile of the 65 entries submitted and the winners were rewarded with £1000 worth of products to help support the fight against graffiti.
Detective Constable Kevin Mosley of the region’s Crimestoppers said: “This is the icing on the cake for the Crimestoppers team who have work tirelessly all year on exciting projects which involve the seven police forces and outside agencies.
“What we must not forget is that without the publics’ support in passing information about graffiti and suspect offenders via Crimestoppers we would not be able to achieve these high rates of detected crimes.
“So we offer our thanks and urge them to continue to supply the information that assists police investigations daily. Ring us today, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 and you could earn a cash reward.”
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Thursday, November 17, 2005.
Graffiti in Kirklees is being tackled head on by a new campaign targeted at encouraging people to report graffiti and suspect offenders.
Crimestoppers together with the division’s Neighbourhood Policing Team and Kirklees Council are urging the public to ‘name the tagger’ anonymously through Crimestoppers.
The drive is focused on reducing criminal damage and improving the public’s perception on their environment. The council will be issuing posters containing images of graffiti from across the area and a number for the public to ring to report sightings or information on suspected offenders.
Through information then gathered by Crimestoppers, the division’s intelligence unit and the Council, offenders will be identified and arrests will be made.
Detective Constable Kevin Mosley of Yorkshire and Humberside Crimestoppers said: “Graffiti is an eyesore in the community and makes people think the area is suffering from high levels of crime, which isn’t necessarily the case. This is basically criminal damage, costing thousands of pounds worth of damage, which needs stamping out.
“We would also like to put the fear of crime back to the offender and make it clear that they are the ones being watched, either by the public or a member of the criminal gang who maybe tempted to 'name the tagger'.
“What we’re asking the public to do is ring us on 0800 555111 with information about those individuals they know are responsible. If that person is arrested and then charged with criminal damage the caller can claim up to a £1000 reward. It is a simple as that and the caller always remains anonymous.”
Inspector Martin Lister from Kirklees Neighbourhood Policing team said: “We are working closely with our partners to wipe out graffiti and prevent acts of mindless vandalism.
“This is a real team effort involving police patrols, partnership interventions and public information and together we will work towards making our neighbourhoods a safer and cleaner place to live.”
As well as reporting the offence to Crimestoppers, the public are also urged to report any graffiti to the Council's Streetcare team. They will then be able to come out and remove it.
Councillor Ann Denham, portfolio holder for Kirklees Council Highways and Transportation said: "People need to understand the damage they cause, areas that are covered in Graffiti are intimidating and give the impression they are run down. We need to target these areas and target the people who are making them a mess.
“I would encourage anyone with information about the people who do this to call Crimestoppers and to call ROSS, the Streetcare cleaning team, on 0800 731 8765 to notify us were there is graffiti so we can remove it."
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Friday April 22, 2005
Whilst graffiti artists may think they’re the creative ones, as of this weekend, the tables are turning.
Local police have designs on anyone intent on causing damage on or around public transport in the region.
Target patrols will join British Transport Police in Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Halifax and Huddersfield to discourage damage and take action against anyone vandalising buses, trains, timetables or waiting areas.
More than 100 officers will be out on high visibility duties tomorrow. They will be focusing on the most troublesome routes and stations, as identified by the bus and rail operators.
This activity is part of Target’s safer transport drive, which has seen many crime-fighting initiatives on public transport throughout the county over the last six months. In particular, it will enforce the recently launched Crimestoppers ‘Turn in a Tagger’ campaign.
As Crimestoppers Regional Co-ordinator, Detective Sergeant Ian Froggett explains: “’Turn in a Tagger’ is all about cleaning up transport crime. By working alongside the police, Metro and bus and rail operators we want to wipe out vandalism.
“Repair bills for graffiti and window etching run into thousand of pounds. The repairs also take time and can have a significant impact on the provision of reliable services.
“To help fight this, Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £1,000. We’re asking the public to ‘Turn in a Tagger’ by ringing us on 0800 555 111 with
information about the individuals they believe to be responsible. If that individual
is arrested and then charged, the caller can claim their reward.”
Target Sergeant Mark Eilbeck said: “Local officers and Special Constables from both West Yorkshire Police and British Transport Police will involved in this initiative. We’re aiming to reassure the public and deter anyone who may thinking of committing criminal damage. Anti-social behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated. If you break the law you can expect to be arrested, maybe even prosecuted.
“Target’s safer transport operations have proved to be very successful in the past and will continue for the foreseeable future. These initiatives genuinely help to reduce transport crime and have been recognised as such by the Department of Transport.”
Chief Inspector Terry Nicholson of British Transport Police, said: "Graffiti is not an art, it’s vandalism, a costly eyesore that increases the fear of crime. For this reason it carries a penalty fine of up to £2,000. This operation is the first of several to identify and arrest individuals causing criminal damage.
“Together with our partners, British Transport Police is committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for the county’s passengers."
To urge people to ‘Turn in a Tagger’ and increase awareness about the implications of vandalism and criminal damage, partner agencies will distribute more than 25,000 leaflets during the initial stages of the campaign. ¶ 12:34 PM
Please check out the following reports from West Yorkshire Police. There is a general absence of anything that could be considered 'street art' in Leeds, but there is a proliferation of tagging and random, generally poor graffiti, which is what the police seem intent on stamping out.
However, all these articles and schemes are underscored by a very basic lack of knowledge and understanding of the subject. The terms of the debate are limiting; where do stencils, posters and stickers fit into this equation? What if some street actions provoke positive responses in communities? What if a well placed poster or stencil actually makes an area feel more safe, more attractive, more fun? There is no room, it seems, for this debate. Shame. The only plus is that most of these retaliatory actions are in response to public complaints, so if people did like what they saw, there would be no complaint, and therefore less chance of reprisal. Interesting reading.
Thursday, August 3, 2006
A group of young people will be giving a helping hand this weekend to clean up graffiti at Earlsheaton Park.
The four, from the Chickenley and Earlsheaton areas will be helping to scrub down the furniture and play equipment using materials provided by the Kirklees Park Ranger.
Also in attendance will be PCSO Joe Walshaw and PC Mike Beardsley from the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Policing Team.
PCSO Joe Walshaw, who organised the event said: “We’re delighted that the young people have offered their services this weekend.
“It sets an excellent example to other young people to get involved in doing something worthwhile in their community.
“The clean up will make the park feel safer and cleaner for those using it.
“Anyone who decides to try and spoil that by writing graffiti should be warned that we will take it seriously and do our best to find out who the offenders are.”
-----------
Crimestoppers Cleans Up at Graffiti Awards
Yorkshire and Humber Crimestoppers are celebrating after receiving recognition for tackling of graffiti.
The regional police charity won the National 2005 Easy ONTM Award after showing the National Graffiti Association how they combated graffiti within communities and how they engaged with outside agencies to achieve this goal.
The Yorkshire and Humber Crimestoppers application included the transport crime initiative and the ‘Turn in a Tagger’ campaign.
The entry came top of the pile of the 65 entries submitted and the winners were rewarded with £1000 worth of products to help support the fight against graffiti.
Detective Constable Kevin Mosley of the region’s Crimestoppers said: “This is the icing on the cake for the Crimestoppers team who have work tirelessly all year on exciting projects which involve the seven police forces and outside agencies.
“What we must not forget is that without the publics’ support in passing information about graffiti and suspect offenders via Crimestoppers we would not be able to achieve these high rates of detected crimes.
“So we offer our thanks and urge them to continue to supply the information that assists police investigations daily. Ring us today, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 and you could earn a cash reward.”
------------
Thursday, November 17, 2005.
Graffiti in Kirklees is being tackled head on by a new campaign targeted at encouraging people to report graffiti and suspect offenders.
Crimestoppers together with the division’s Neighbourhood Policing Team and Kirklees Council are urging the public to ‘name the tagger’ anonymously through Crimestoppers.
The drive is focused on reducing criminal damage and improving the public’s perception on their environment. The council will be issuing posters containing images of graffiti from across the area and a number for the public to ring to report sightings or information on suspected offenders.
Through information then gathered by Crimestoppers, the division’s intelligence unit and the Council, offenders will be identified and arrests will be made.
Detective Constable Kevin Mosley of Yorkshire and Humberside Crimestoppers said: “Graffiti is an eyesore in the community and makes people think the area is suffering from high levels of crime, which isn’t necessarily the case. This is basically criminal damage, costing thousands of pounds worth of damage, which needs stamping out.
“We would also like to put the fear of crime back to the offender and make it clear that they are the ones being watched, either by the public or a member of the criminal gang who maybe tempted to 'name the tagger'.
“What we’re asking the public to do is ring us on 0800 555111 with information about those individuals they know are responsible. If that person is arrested and then charged with criminal damage the caller can claim up to a £1000 reward. It is a simple as that and the caller always remains anonymous.”
Inspector Martin Lister from Kirklees Neighbourhood Policing team said: “We are working closely with our partners to wipe out graffiti and prevent acts of mindless vandalism.
“This is a real team effort involving police patrols, partnership interventions and public information and together we will work towards making our neighbourhoods a safer and cleaner place to live.”
As well as reporting the offence to Crimestoppers, the public are also urged to report any graffiti to the Council's Streetcare team. They will then be able to come out and remove it.
Councillor Ann Denham, portfolio holder for Kirklees Council Highways and Transportation said: "People need to understand the damage they cause, areas that are covered in Graffiti are intimidating and give the impression they are run down. We need to target these areas and target the people who are making them a mess.
“I would encourage anyone with information about the people who do this to call Crimestoppers and to call ROSS, the Streetcare cleaning team, on 0800 731 8765 to notify us were there is graffiti so we can remove it."
-------------
Friday April 22, 2005
Whilst graffiti artists may think they’re the creative ones, as of this weekend, the tables are turning.
Local police have designs on anyone intent on causing damage on or around public transport in the region.
Target patrols will join British Transport Police in Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Halifax and Huddersfield to discourage damage and take action against anyone vandalising buses, trains, timetables or waiting areas.
More than 100 officers will be out on high visibility duties tomorrow. They will be focusing on the most troublesome routes and stations, as identified by the bus and rail operators.
This activity is part of Target’s safer transport drive, which has seen many crime-fighting initiatives on public transport throughout the county over the last six months. In particular, it will enforce the recently launched Crimestoppers ‘Turn in a Tagger’ campaign.
As Crimestoppers Regional Co-ordinator, Detective Sergeant Ian Froggett explains: “’Turn in a Tagger’ is all about cleaning up transport crime. By working alongside the police, Metro and bus and rail operators we want to wipe out vandalism.
“Repair bills for graffiti and window etching run into thousand of pounds. The repairs also take time and can have a significant impact on the provision of reliable services.
“To help fight this, Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £1,000. We’re asking the public to ‘Turn in a Tagger’ by ringing us on 0800 555 111 with
information about the individuals they believe to be responsible. If that individual
is arrested and then charged, the caller can claim their reward.”
Target Sergeant Mark Eilbeck said: “Local officers and Special Constables from both West Yorkshire Police and British Transport Police will involved in this initiative. We’re aiming to reassure the public and deter anyone who may thinking of committing criminal damage. Anti-social behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated. If you break the law you can expect to be arrested, maybe even prosecuted.
“Target’s safer transport operations have proved to be very successful in the past and will continue for the foreseeable future. These initiatives genuinely help to reduce transport crime and have been recognised as such by the Department of Transport.”
Chief Inspector Terry Nicholson of British Transport Police, said: "Graffiti is not an art, it’s vandalism, a costly eyesore that increases the fear of crime. For this reason it carries a penalty fine of up to £2,000. This operation is the first of several to identify and arrest individuals causing criminal damage.
“Together with our partners, British Transport Police is committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for the county’s passengers."
To urge people to ‘Turn in a Tagger’ and increase awareness about the implications of vandalism and criminal damage, partner agencies will distribute more than 25,000 leaflets during the initial stages of the campaign. ¶ 12:34 PM
