Victims of graffiti could face fines of £2,500 if they fail to remove it, under new proposals from Southend Council.This….err…bold move stems from the ‘seven environmental issues’ highlighted in a draft ‘Environmental Enforcement Policy’ that has just been issued by the council and which they claim:
… aims to crackdown on persistent offenders.Except, of course, it doesn’t do that, does it? It aims to crackdown on the poor sods plagued by persistent offenders.
Hopefully, the negative publicity this will undoubtedly bring the council will force them to rethink. Otherwise, it’s a good way to drive your business rivals out of business…
Or perhaps Jacqui Smith’s next bright idea might be locking up the victims of knife crime!
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ReplyDelete"Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" indeed.
ReplyDeleteAnd the cause of graffiti crime is obviously those inviting blank walls just asking to be scrawled over by "some mute, inglorious Milton", or, more likely some dole-bludging ratbag.
It makes one yearn for the days when a boy could be hanged for spinning a top in the road. A few hangings of some graffiti "artistes" and a display of their corpses in gibbets next to the offending "artworks" would, I think, have a salutary effect.
"A few hangings of some graffiti "artistes" and a display of their corpses in gibbets..."
ReplyDeleteThat's good for a crack at the Turner Prize, I think... ;)
Just a tangential thought: if we ever got "zero tolerance" policing you can bet that those who would be primarily targetted would be the normally law abiding. After all, they have "fixed abodes", identifiable assets which can be seized before guilt is established (cf Proceeds of Crime Act), are not covered by legal aid and would prefer to cop a plea (in return for a caution) than waste their time being dragged through the courts. The scrotocracy would carry on as usual but the police crime solving statistics would look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Broon's meeting with convicted knife criminals to ask them what the punishment should be?!?!
ReplyDeleteBlu Eyes wrote: What about Broon's meeting with convicted knife criminals to ask them what the punishment should be?!?!"
ReplyDeleteI suppose he thought it was better than taking a stab in the dark...
This isn't really a problem.
ReplyDeleteJust wait for the law to come into force, then find out where the idiot that thought it up lives.
One can of spray paint and one midnight visit later, hey presto!