Town centre shops 'tagged' by vandals

THREE teenagers were arrested by a special police patrol late last Friday night when more than 20 Western Road business premises were "tagged" with a marker pen.

When graffiti vandals mark a property with their own distinctive symbol it is know as "tagging."

PCs Rob Shaw, Dave Catt, Mick Dunn and Geoff Fox were on a patrol led by Sergeant Matt Brooks last Friday night.

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The patrol had been mounted by Inspector Max Mosley following complaints of late-night rowdism in the road.

Inspector Mosley said that as a result of an altercation with two youths and a girl, Captor incapacitant spray was used to make the arrests.

One of the youths was found to have a sock filled with nuts and bolts in his possession and was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.

The other youth and the girl were arrested under the Public Order Act.

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"While the three were in custody it turned out that at least 20 premises in Western Road had been tagged.

"When they looked at the youngsters' property it was found that one was in possession of a black marker pen."

The three have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Curzon boss Ray Sutton recently closed his cinema on Friday and Saturday nights because of rowdism in the road.

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Inspector Mosley said at the time that police had received no complaints from Mr Sutton about problems at the Curzon.

Inspector Mosley told the Observer on Monday: "I am sure there have been problems in Western Road that have not been reported to us.

"As a result, we are putting on directed patrols into the town centre late at night."

He said the arrests had been a good response by the special patrol.

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