TOUGHER action is being taken in a bid to tackle the tide of graffiti in Bromley.

The action comes after it emerged the borough has become a target for graffiti vandals.

Bromley police's youth justice unit has joined forces with the Community Safety Partnership to combat the problem.

Part of the plan is for police officers to remind young people graffiti is criminal damage by going into the borough's school and giving talks. And positive steps are being taken to divert youngsters from damaging property by exploring ways of putting up legal graffiti walls.

A shared borough-wide database of graffiti tags is being developed while joint operations using cameras and other techniques are set to continue. More than 30 people have already been arrested for graffiti this year.

Bromley police spokesman Chief Inspector Ragna Tulloch said: "To many in Bromley, graffiti is a source of much concern and frustration. It is criminal damage and young people need to be aware if they commit an offence there are consequences.

"That is why we are going to be talking to pupils in all of the borough's schools to inform them of what those consequences are and to hopefully deter them from offending."

September 12, 2001 9:48