Four arrests in Exeter graffiti operation
Four men have been arrested as part of a police operation to crackdown on a growing problem of graffiti damage in Exeter.
Exeter neighbourhood police are working with Exeter City Council to tackle the issue after numerous tags were sprayed on city buildings in recent months.
Officers have been focusing their efforts on the prolific tags ‘PHOKS’, ‘UKS’ and ‘REGS’ which have appeared across the city.
On Sunday 18 October, St Martin’s Lane, Musgrove Row, and a van belonging to a market trader were all targeted with the tags ‘UKS’ and 'REGS’.
Police attended and arrested three men, aged 25, 26 and 27, on suspicion of causing criminal damage to the vehicle and various businesses. They have been released on bail.
A19-year-old man from Exeter was also arrested in 16 September on suspicion of criminal damage at Sydenham House. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.
PC Chris Hogg, from the neighbourhood team, said: “There have been numerous graffiti tags appearing throughout the city and it is an issue that the Exeter Community Safety Partnership is working hard to resolve.
“This is pure vandalism and is causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to people’s property. The recent initiative by Exeter City Council to clean up graffiti has proved very popular and has been making a noticeable difference in the city. But the battle continues and police attention is being focused on a small number of prolific graffiti taggers.
“It is a criminal offence to cause criminal damage to property. We know that perpetrators use individual tags and the police are collating images of these on a database. This means that once police identify an offender, they can be charged with all offences of criminal damage recorded.”
Police are calling on the public’s help to tackle the problem and urging anyone with information to come forward.
The community safety partnership is also working with Crimestoppers on a ‘Name that Tag’ campaign aimed at gathering public information to help identify those responsible for these crimes.
PC Chris Hogg added: “As well as looking to bring offenders to justice, we are working with our other partner agencies to look at a longer term plan.
“This will include legal site provision for those persons that want to express their art but not commit criminal offences. Previous projects, such as the Exe Bridge underpass, have been very successful. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who would be interested in providing legal site provision in the city.”
PC Hogg can be contacted on email via: christopher.hogg@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Anyone with information about the graffiti offences is asked to contact police on 101 or via 101@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk quoting crime reference CR/42151/15 regarding ‘PHOKS’ tags or crime reference CR/72476/15 regarding ‘UKS’ tags.
Alternatively information can be passed anonymously and in confidence via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
