Vandals ‘must not be ignored or tolerated’
Wednesday 14th October 2009, 1:00PM BST.
A PORTABLE CCTV system and graffiti walls are just two of the measures that could be brought in to tackle vandalism in Guernsey. 
The Scrutiny Committee has made the recommendations following analysis of questionnaires distributed to the public.
More than 400 people contributed to the review with their views on the causes and effects of vandalism.
Scrutiny chairman Barry Brehaut said the results clearly indicated that it was a concern within the community and should not be ignored or tolerated.
Criminal damage is the most frequently reported offence in Guernsey at a third of the total.
The committee has not asked the States to spend more money tackling the problem, but to ensure its approach is better coordinated between departments.
Its recommendations include the promotion of an anti-vandalism campaign in conjunction with the Crime Prevention Panel and a review of the maximum level of compensation that can be awarded by the Magistrate’s Court – the current figure stands at £2,000.
It also recommends that Culture and Leisure, Housing and Environment look into providing more leisure facilities in hotspot areas and estates.
Community spaces or shelters where young people could congregate were also recommended.
‘Scrutiny emphasises the role all members of the community must play in tackling vandalism,’ said Deputy Brehaut.
‘Taking individual responsibility and improving social inclusion are fundamental to reinforcing the sense of community and reducing many social problems such as vandalism.’
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Close the areas off to the public outside of working/school hours. In a society whereby the minority always wins, why should we treat this any differently to how we handle other instances where minority actions results in majority being restrictrd/punished
Liberation – ban drinking because 10 people were arrested (although not yet got down to banning Friday nights)
Airports – Create £100m industry in shoe scanning machines, extra staff, extra gadgets because of a single terrorist using his shoe. God help us if it is hidden in the underwear…ahh Manchester
The answer here – vandalism not terrorism is not to let the minority win, not to close facilities, not to create public Art walls (acceptance) but harsh minimum penalties e.g £2000/100 hour community sevice + cost of clean up with potential for imprisonment. Warnings do not work
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I have yet to obtain a copy of the report, but from what has been said in the Press and on radio it is clear that the problems have been understood for some time and that various organisations, particularly States departments have stood by and done nothing.
For example, planning required the Housing Association to include play areas for children in at least two of its developments. The plans were produced, included in the drawings and nothing ever built.
Play facilities are regularly shown in school development, like Baubigny and Beaucamps, but no funds are allocated and charities are pressed to pay – in the case of Le Murier far smaller than originally planned and required.
It is far less expensive to educate young islanders to behave with respect to property than to pay for law enforcement, courts and insurance to mop-up afterwards.
As a final observation; many say it was never so bad in the past – well our forefathers never thought it reasonable to leave £20,000 to £50,000 worth of property sitting in the gutter on the assumption that it would be safe. They built garages and locked their property away.
Maybe there are lessons to be learnt there!
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we just need more police out on the streets…and no more of this human rights rubbish.
a clip around the ear and a scrubbing brush will soon sort out most of the so-called street artists.
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PC and baphomet
I think the main problem is in catching the little morons
Perhaps a reward system would help? Just enough to buy a new pair of trainers or a new hoodie would get tongues rattling
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Ray and Co – I think the main problem is probably a lack of guide lines and constructive discipline within homes, little morons who think they rule the roost, wherever they are, tend to grow (you will notice that I do not say grow “up”)into big morons and become even more of a public nuisance. All the whirligigs and slides in the world will not take the place of some good old fashioned parental guidance.
Whilst I am quite taken by the idea of a clip round the ear and a scrubbing brush, this rather smacks of “bring back the birch” and, “where are the stocks?” and could have some random oik squeaking about human rights.
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