News / Crime
Man sentenced over 78 graffiti tags
An 18-year-old has been given an eight-week suspended prison sentence, landed a £2,000 find and ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work for tagging.
Jason West, from Bournemouth, was subject to a joint council and police crackdown which aims to “make it clear exactly what constitutes graffiti”.
“We are not targeting graffiti as an art form but instead aim to deal with those that commit a criminal act by damaging property without the consent of the owner,” police said after West was sentenced on Friday.
West was charged with 78 counts of criminal damage and has also been given a 9pm-5am curfew by the judge at Bristol Crown Court.
PC Stuart King said: “West travelled to Bristol with the sole intention of causing damage to private and public property by painting it with his distinctive ‘wash’ tag.
“This is the latest in a series of arrests as part of a wider joint crackdown with Bristol City Council targeting prolific graffiti writers in the city known as Operation Block.
“We are not targeting graffiti as an art form but instead aim to deal with those that commit a criminal act by damaging property without the consent of the owner.
“All of those that have so far being arrested or identified are adults. Many of whom are in employment or university and are actively putting their graffiti tags in is many prominent locations as possible.”
Daniella Radice, assistant mayor for neighbourhoods, and Green Party councillor for Bishopston, said: “This is a great example of our partnership approach. We are working to tackle the tagging that blights many city streets and transport corridors, and is of concern to many people.
“We are pleased that the court has supported the work we are doing to combat this issue, by handing down a strong sentence. We hope this will make other people think twice before mindlessly tagging properties across our city.
“Bristol City Council are currently working on a new policy, which aims to make it clear exactly what constitutes graffiti. As a cultural capital, we support street art where the owner of the building has given permission, but we are keen to see the end to senseless tagging across the city.”