Police are releasing pictures of graffiti at the skate park on Ryde Esplanade, Isle of Wight in an appeal to help identify and catch whoever was responsible.
Officers from the town’s local Safer Neighbourhoods team are investigating reports of criminal damage, which are believed to have taken place between 12pm on Monday, October 3, 2011 and 8am on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.
The tags NSF, Neus, and T17 were sprayed in gold and brown paint.
Police are pursuing several lines of enquiry, and working closely with colleagues from Ryde Town Council.
Investigating officer PC Martin Rogers from Ryde Town Safer Neighbourhoods team said: “This type of vandalism shows a complete lack of respect for a popular facility, which people of all ages have worked hard to provide and protect for the community.
“Vandalism will never be tolerated as it is sometimes the first stage of a someone going on to commit more serious offences. The sight of graffiti can also raise the fear of crime among residents and visitors.
“We’ve acted swiftly in the past to identify and catch criminal graffiti vandals who wrongly assumed that they could get away with targeting Ryde.
“I would like to appeal to anyone with information about the identity of those responsible for this graffiti to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Ryde Police Station by phoning 101. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
The Ryde Town Safer Neighbourhoods team can also be contacted by e-mailing rydetown.snt@hampshire.police.uk. In an emergency, always phone 999. Find out more about your local Safer Neighbourhoods team by going online to www.hampshire.police.uk and typing in your postcode.
Councillor Tim Wakeley from Ryde Town Council’s Skatepark Management Committee said: “The costs of rectifying this wanton criminal damage to one of the town’s few facilities for young people will reduce the amount of money available for the Town Council to spend on the park. Continued damage in this way could also eventually lead to the future of the park being reviewed.”
