GRAFFITI "NO CRIME" SAY KIDS

26-09-2007

Most Birmingham teenagers don't think graffiti is "criminal damage" - even though they know it's illegal. That's the key finding of an online survey carried out among 11-24 year olds by Kerrang Radio.

The findings will feed into the City Council's "Tackling Graffiti" review, and will give them plenty of food for thought.

What it highlighted is that many young people - 50% on this reckoning - think that graffiti was a problem or was starting to become one in their area; and that although it was self-selecting sample of more than 800 teenagers and young adults, fewer than one in ten (7%) admitted being involved.

Even so, only 23% thought graffiti should be classed as "criminal damage" even though 70% recognised that this was how the law sees it.

The prospect of arrest or court action was cited as the most likely deterrent to continuing or getting involved in the first place, giving strength to those who think that tough action is needed to tackle it.

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