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Graffiti in 35 Winchester sites
A WINCHESTER teenager has been arrested after graffiti appeared across the city on Saturday (May 3).
Police said there were 35 instances of the letters "NEMEW" being painted on walls and buildings, prompting them to arrest a 19-year-old on suspicion of criminal damage.
He was released on bail until Tuesday, June 3.
Inspector Kevin Baxman, of Winchester police, said: "We are working closely with the Winchester City Wardens to investigate these offences and to remove the graffiti.
"We are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the offences being committed in the early hours of Saturday, May 3.
"We would also like to hear from anyone whose property or premises may have been damaged."
Anyone with any information regarding these incidents should contact PC Rob Dimond at North Walls police station, quoting Operation Leabrook, on 0845 045 45 45 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
11:45am Tuesday 6th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ian, Winchester on 1:07pm Tue 6 May 08
I hope the perpetrator gets a fitting punishment such as having to clean up the pathetic mess in broad daylight!!
I hope the perpetrator gets a fitting punishment such as having to clean up the pathetic mess in broad daylight!!
Posted by: Carl Bowden, winchester on 10:35pm Tue 6 May 08
its wemen backwords, come on who did it, u can tell me but fair play they hit up loads of places even on the blue nissan micra[quote]quote[/quote]
its wemen backwords, come on who did it, u can tell me but fair play they hit up loads of places even on the blue nissan micra
quote
Posted by: anonymous tipster, above email wrong on 12:45pm Wed 7 May 08
It seems that your graffiti artist will have a computer at home with links in hard drive to many forums he has visit about graffiti, i am aware he has been caught but evidence is crucial. I have found a link to a graffiti forum where Nemew claims to be 16 years old in 2005 which would make him 19 now, same age as suspect. So just seize computer at home and no doubt you'll find entries to forums in hard drive, at least that's some evidence. Please forward this to the police if has any relevance to investigation. Thanks
It seems that your graffiti artist will have a computer at home with links in hard drive to many forums he has visit about graffiti, i am aware he has been caught but evidence is crucial. I have found a link to a graffiti forum where Nemew claims to be 16 years old in 2005 which would make him 19 now, same age as suspect. So just seize computer at home and no doubt you'll find entries to forums in hard drive, at least that's some evidence. Please forward this to the police if has any relevance to investigation. Thanks
Posted by: anonymous tipster, email wrong on 12:50pm Wed 7 May 08
Here is link: http://www.staylocke
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Here is link: http://www.staylocke
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Posted by: Anon on 2:02pm Wed 7 May 08
Grafitti has been a growing problem in Winchester for some time now. WCC should adopt a zero tolerance attitude to it and clean it off as soon as it appears. If it is left it spreads rapidly. However, WCC are only interested if the grafitti is on public buildings. A very useful 'get-out'! I notice that this time the grafitti has appeared on several public buildings, hence the outrage. If it had been done on private walls (witness the house adjacent to the entrance to St. Peter's car park) I wonder whether we would have had such an outcry. An official at WCC once admitted to me that grafitti was a low priority for the Council.
Grafitti has been a growing problem in Winchester for some time now. WCC should adopt a zero tolerance attitude to it and clean it off as soon as it appears. If it is left it spreads rapidly. However, WCC are only interested if the grafitti is on public buildings. A very useful 'get-out'! I notice that this time the grafitti has appeared on several public buildings, hence the outrage. If it had been done on private walls (witness the house adjacent to the entrance to St. Peter's car park) I wonder whether we would have had such an outcry. An official at WCC once admitted to me that grafitti was a low priority for the Council.
Posted by: anon, Winchester on 3:00pm Wed 7 May 08
I thought that the reason that WCC can only remove graffiti from public bildings is simply to do with ownership. If WCC start scrubbing hard at your wall to remove graffiti (which is notoriously hard to remove from porous surfaces) and cause damage, naturally enough you would not be pleased.
If someone kicked over your fence you would wish the police to be involved but would you expect the local authority to put your fence back up?
That's not the way the country works at present.
WCC will, I understand, remove racist and offensive graffiti immediately whether on private or public property.
I thought that the reason that WCC can only remove graffiti from public bildings is simply to do with ownership. If WCC start scrubbing hard at your wall to remove graffiti (which is notoriously hard to remove from porous surfaces) and cause damage, naturally enough you would not be pleased.
If someone kicked over your fence you would wish the police to be involved but would you expect the local authority to put your fence back up?
That's not the way the country works at present.
WCC will, I understand, remove racist and offensive graffiti immediately whether on private or public property.
Posted by: Anon on 5:08pm Wed 7 May 08
You must work for the council! Five years ago it was very rare to see any graffiti at all in Winchester. Then it started appearing: for example at the back of Majestic Wine as you approach the station, visible from the train. Nothing was done. Then, it started to appear on the green telephone utility boxes throughout the city. Nothing was done. A reply from the Council to a letter I wrote said that there was nothing they could do as it was private property. Why couldn't WCC provide a graffiti cleaning service perhaps levying a small charge? I would have thought it was in the Council's interests to keep the City presentable.
There has been an element of complacency when it comes to graffiti. I can only repeat: Leave graffiti and it wil spread rapidly. It is one of the cankers of our present day society and councils should be proactive in combatting it.
You must work for the council! Five years ago it was very rare to see any graffiti at all in Winchester. Then it started appearing: for example at the back of Majestic Wine as you approach the station, visible from the train. Nothing was done. Then, it started to appear on the green telephone utility boxes throughout the city. Nothing was done. A reply from the Council to a letter I wrote said that there was nothing they could do as it was private property. Why couldn't WCC provide a graffiti cleaning service perhaps levying a small charge? I would have thought it was in the Council's interests to keep the City presentable.
There has been an element of complacency when it comes to graffiti. I can only repeat: Leave graffiti and it wil spread rapidly. It is one of the cankers of our present day society and councils should be proactive in combatting it.
Posted by: Irate of Winchester, Winchester on 4:11pm Fri 9 May 08
People like this idiot should be publically humiliated. Comments from the likes of Carl Bowden who obviously think this sort of damage to properties is acceptable should join him !
People like this idiot should be publically humiliated. Comments from the likes of Carl Bowden who obviously think this sort of damage to properties is acceptable should join him !
Posted by: Ben, Winchester on 8:00pm Sun 11 May 08
I like the idea of him having to clean it off in public! It wouldn't take long to find out who did it in Winchester, I found out he regularly drinks in 'Alfies' after a conversation with someone who claimed to have heard him bragging about it. Winchester is sucha lovely city and one of the few left in that beauty, vandalising property that has been up for hundreds of years is out of order and I will buy 10 pints of beer for the first person to break his nose. (How the hell did he manage to write it so high on the building at the cross roads up above the pizza place round the corner from the albion?)
I like the idea of him having to clean it off in public! It wouldn't take long to find out who did it in Winchester, I found out he regularly drinks in 'Alfies' after a conversation with someone who claimed to have heard him bragging about it. Winchester is sucha lovely city and one of the few left in that beauty, vandalising property that has been up for hundreds of years is out of order and I will buy 10 pints of beer for the first person to break his nose. (How the hell did he manage to write it so high on the building at the cross roads up above the pizza place round the corner from the albion?)
Posted by: Charly, Alresford on 3:31pm Wed 14 May 08
Okay, people need to chill out. Graffiti is a form of art and in other countries (eg Germany) is accepted in that form. This is the sort of attitude that is turning the UK into a nanny state.
Perhaps it would be an interesting idea to create somewhere specifically for this type of art. Treat it as an art form, say it will be tolerated in designated places and you'll have less teens trying to break free from this country's stupid "let's make a big deal out of everything and let everyone do nothing."
I do not condone graffiti-ing on people's houses or public buildings, but why do people never try to find an alternative than being 'outraged' by a little bit of paint?
Okay, people need to chill out. Graffiti is a form of art and in other countries (eg Germany) is accepted in that form. This is the sort of attitude that is turning the UK into a nanny state.
Perhaps it would be an interesting idea to create somewhere specifically for this type of art. Treat it as an art form, say it will be tolerated in designated places and you'll have less teens trying to break free from this country's stupid "let's make a big deal out of everything and let everyone do nothing."
I do not condone graffiti-ing on people's houses or public buildings, but why do people never try to find an alternative than being 'outraged' by a little bit of paint?
Posted by: Richard, Alresford on 10:32pm Wed 14 May 08
Charly, I don't think that having a designated area would make any difference because people like him only do this sort of thing to try and be rebellious. Oh and I think painting graffiti on someones car is pretty outrageous!
How does he manage to get some of them so high? I saw NEMEW painted right near the top of the bus station today.
Charly, I don't think that having a designated area would make any difference because people like him only do this sort of thing to try and be rebellious. Oh and I think painting graffiti on someones car is pretty outrageous!
How does he manage to get some of them so high? I saw NEMEW painted right near the top of the bus station today.
Posted by: Dum, Winchester on 3:48am Wed 21 May 08
This wasn't typical grafiti, it was a 'tag'. The sort you see on canal bridges or by your local newsagent.
Painting this on public buildings could be considered a statement, but to defile a personal belonging such as a car is very wrong.
However, I am impressed with the speed and efficeny that NEMEW appeared overnight. Perhaps this perp would be better employed in the local authorities cleaning up grafiti?
This wasn't typical grafiti, it was a 'tag'. The sort you see on canal bridges or by your local newsagent.
Painting this on public buildings could be considered a statement, but to defile a personal belonging such as a car is very wrong.
However, I am impressed with the speed and efficeny that NEMEW appeared overnight. Perhaps this perp would be better employed in the local authorities cleaning up grafiti?
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