Written by Tom Geoghegan, and published on the This Is Croydon site at http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/local_london/croydon/

The summer crackdown on graffiti continues with a plea to shopkeepers not to sell aerosol paint sprays to youngsters. Croydon Council is sending out letters to retailers in August seeking their co-operation to keep paint sprays out of the hands of young people who use them for daubing graffiti. It follows the success of a number of resident-led drives to clean up certain parts of Croydon borough. This plea to retailers is the first by the council related to aerosols, although it has been done before regarding cigarettes and solvents. Chief trading standards officer Steve Ruddy said: "The difference this time is that we are going for a voluntary approach because there is no legal restriction. "Most shopkeepers do try to be as responsible as possible although a few are irresponsible." There has been an attempt to bring legislation to bear on aerosol sales, but as yet to no avail.

In Kingston a similar code of practice was introduced earlier this year with a high-profile poster campaign, with some success. Croydon cabinet minister for public protection and public health, Councillor Maggie Mansell, said: "The trading standards service has responsibility for regulating the sale and supply of goods and services and enforcing a wide range of consumer protection legislation. "While solvents and knifes might be more associated with physical harm, there is little doubt that the public share a strong desire to see graffiti wiped out. By working in partnership with local businesses to keep these damaging sprays out of the hands of vandals, we hope to reduce the incidence of ugly graffiti defacing the borough. "I am sure this would be celebrated by many thousands of people who regard unsightly graffiti as at best an environmental nuisance and often the precursor to something more sinister or dangerous."

Meanwhile, the council has confirmed that anyone whose private house or shop is continually being targeted by vandals can apply for a Smarter Croydon grant for the installation of measures designed to prevent further abuse. Examples would include trellis work, planting and grants of up to £5,000 are potentially available. Call 020 8760 5518.

August 2, 2001 10:11