Fury over graffiti sprayed on signs and bollards along Birmingham Road
A furious council chief has warned a Walsall graffiti vandal that the next ‘tag’ they will be involved in will be one worn around the ankle.
Walsall Council leader Mike Bird hit out after an offender struck and left their mark along Birmingham Road.
Council bins, electricity boxes, street signs and even traffic islands all along the street were daubed in the ‘tag’ of the perpetrator.
Authority bosses said CCTV shows the offender striking in the early hours of mornings and the footage is now being assessed as part of the investigation to identify the culprit.
Councillor Bird said: “There is someone who now thinks it’s funny to go down the Birmingham Road and graffiting.
“I was amazed when I saw it. Someone has just gone along with a spray can. Lock them up. Take the can off them.
“Certain behaviour is unacceptable. This individual thinks it’s great to put their tag on street furniture.
“When I find out what this ‘tag’ means, the first person I’m going to be telling is the police. And the only tag he or she will have then will be around his or her ankle.”
In March, the authority announced it was increasing fines issued for all environmental crimes such as fly-tipping, littering and graffiti to the maximum possible in a bid to clean up Walsall.
The fine for graffiti offences almost doubled from the previous £80 to £150.
When the new policy was announced Councillor Garry Perry, portfolio holder for community, leisure and culture, said: “The message is clear – we are not going to stand for it anymore and we are getting tougher.
“We talk about creating a safer Walsall but nothing says ‘welcome, come and commit a crime here’ than issues such as this.
“So we are increasing the fines for littering, fly-tipping and other offences to the maximum possible. We are trying to get to grips with the problem but we are taking it seriously and will come down hard on offenders.”
