Written by Paul Holden, and published on the This Is Brighton and Hove site at http://www.thisisbrighton.co.uk/

Police have arrested seven youths in a major crackdown on graffiti.

The youngsters, all aged under 17, were caught by officers during a covert operation in the Durrington and Goring districts of Worthing. Police in plain clothes patrolled graffiti hotspots, including Palatine Park, in the evenings to catch offenders in the act. During a week-long surveillance operation, they arrested two youths for burglary, two for public order offences and seven for graffiti. Some of the suspects were armed with specially-adapted high-powered spray guns to daub buildings. Sergeant Mel Doyle, community beat officer for Worthing, said: "The graffiti damage in the area is very bad. We are not going to tolerate any more nonsense. "Those who were caught in the act were just about to start work. At least two of them had pump-action spray guns and were ready for business."

She said the youths were collected from the police station by their parents, some of whom were furious their children were causing mayhem.

The crackdown, which will continue, is part of Operation Genie, a major offensive against graffiti vandals who have caused thousands of pounds in damage in Worthing.