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Graffiti 'makes area look like Harlem'

5:50pm Wednesday 13th February 2008

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GRAFFITI vandals defaced flats and garages in Colchester.

They painted on walls in Groves Close and Bradford Drive, at the town end of Mile End Road - as well as on the road itself.

Residents in older homes in nearby Golden Dawn Way and Hugh Dickson Road reported graffiti scrawled across garages and walls.

The letters B, F, G, R and A were sprayed in orange, white or silver paint.

Myland parish councillor Steve Last said: "The damage is extensive it looks like Harlem."

He said it would be up to the borough council and the developers to see that the graffiti was removed.

Martin Goss, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, said: "A lot of people are really angry."

PC Steve Walsom asked for anyone with information about the culprits to call him on on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Your Say YourGazette

April, says...
6:12pm Wed 13 Feb 08

Well, PC Walsom, perhaps I can suggest you look for 5 yobs - with first names beginning with B, F, G, R and A.

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Victor, Myland says...
6:23pm Wed 13 Feb 08

Well April, you're the first suspect then. Thanks for your less than helpful comment - Hopefully B,F.G and R will pick on you next time.

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Muffdiver, Colchester says...
7:47pm Wed 13 Feb 08

I couldnt believe it when I walked down Bradford Drive on Monday morning. The area looks awful. Its a real kick in the teeth for Martin Goss and the parish council of Mile End who are trying to make the area a pleasant and safe place to live. I cannot believe that no one witnessed the graffiti being done anywhere as there is loads of it. If anyone sees anybody spraying graffiti then dont wait for the Police go and chop their hands off (after they have been made to clear it up).

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Martin Goss, Colchester says...
9:57am Thu 14 Feb 08

The people who did this to the residents of Mile End are vermin! There is just no excuse!

Having spoken to so many residents, the culprits best go underground as there are some seriously angry folks who may just take the law into their own hands!

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Annoyed, Harlem, USA says...
11:41am Thu 14 Feb 08

Steve Last really needs to do some research on Harlem, its actually one of New Yorks up and coming areas. If he wants to make comparisons maybe he should look closer to home , ie Greenstead, Jaywick. It should also be noted that New Yorks crime rates are falling. In direct contrast the UKs are going up. Maybe next time we get some trouble here, we will be tutting and saying "Harlem, its getting more and more like Colchester everyday"

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Scooby, Colchester says...
12:21pm Thu 14 Feb 08

Mr Goss, you are correct. Unfortunately my property was one of those targeted and believe you me if I catch them I will dish out my own punishment and quite happily take the consequences.

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Respect For All, Colchester says...
1:14pm Thu 14 Feb 08

Annoyed wrote:
Steve Last really needs to do some research on Harlem, its actually one of New Yorks up and coming areas. If he wants to make comparisons maybe he should look closer to home , ie Greenstead, Jaywick. It should also be noted that New Yorks crime rates are falling. In direct contrast the UKs are going up. Maybe next time we get some trouble here, we will be tutting and saying \"Harlem, its getting more and more like Colchester everyday\"
Annoyed from Harlem .. shut up mate nobody is listening to you here, go and write on your Harlem's Gazette's wall.

We should send these scumbags to jail and should not let out out until they learn the world "RESPECT".

Shame on them ! Useless lot !

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Martin Goss, Colchester says...
2:19pm Thu 14 Feb 08

Give me a buzz scooby.

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Geoff, Colchester says...
9:53pm Thu 14 Feb 08

"Respect for all!" show some respect yourself,Annoyed from Harlem is absolutely correct we should be looking and listening to see what works.Clearly imprisonment dosnt and not much else that has been tried has worked either.

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Paul, colchester says...
8:10am Fri 15 Feb 08

Respect For All wrote:
Annoyed wrote:
Steve Last really needs to do some research on Harlem, its actually one of New Yorks up and coming areas. If he wants to make comparisons maybe he should look closer to home , ie Greenstead, Jaywick. It should also be noted that New Yorks crime rates are falling. In direct contrast the UKs are going up. Maybe next time we get some trouble here, we will be tutting and saying \"Harlem, its getting more and more like Colchester everyday\"
Annoyed from Harlem .. shut up mate nobody is listening to you here, go and write on your Harlem's Gazette's wall.

We should send these scumbags to jail and should not let out out until they learn the world "RESPECT".

Shame on them ! Useless lot !
like the respect you are showing to annoyed from Harlem ?

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Respect For All, Colchester says...
9:53am Fri 15 Feb 08

A good example has twice the value of good advice. So rather than trying to come up with a good solution and wasting time, effort, money and your breaths.. put one in the prison and let this be a lesson for the others !

Softy softy approach does not work these days.

Graffiti vandals are a menace, they have created an unsightly eyesore, and it will be costly to repair all the property that has been damaged so yes they should be caught and prisoned.







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US Citizen, UK says...
10:05am Fri 15 Feb 08

Steve Last and Respect for All should hang their heads in shame. Colchester has alot to offer US and other tourists and doesnt benefit from misinformed and plain downright rude and ignorant views as expressed by both of these. Thankfully from my own experience I know Colchester to be a great place but just be aware small ripples cause big waves and if your intent on putting people off visiting your town, your going the right way.

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Say It As It Is, Clackers says...
10:09am Fri 15 Feb 08

Shame you put that first post up Respect, I am sure you would have got alot more respect yourself if you had said that about making an example rather than managing to insulting a nation that spends a fortune over on tourism. Same goes for Steve Last, respect isnt just for property, its how you treat people and other nations.

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Geoff, Colchester says...
10:54am Fri 15 Feb 08

Respect for all,I would have thought that you would have known that locking people up is not a deterrent, if it were we would not have one of the largest prison populations in Europe even more than Russia per capita.
No-one said anything about a softly softly approach,it needs some creative thinking sadly not many of our local politicians and crime and disorder partnerships seem to be able to get their heads round this.

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Say It As It Is, Clackers says...
11:22am Fri 15 Feb 08

Prison can only be a true detterant where having served a sentence is viewed as a mark of shame not a badge of honour.

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Jane, Colchester says...
11:35am Fri 15 Feb 08

Vandalism is one thing that has always galled me. How a person could wantonly destroy anything is beyond me.
This shocking and disgraceful practice should not be tolerated in any society.

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Peace, Colchester says...
11:50am Fri 15 Feb 08

Well the parents to blame here I think. Simply, parents should have control of their children and should be monitoring them and be aware of what their children are doing. Until the child turns the age of 18, parents are responsible. Therefore I suggest the following :

Make them pay £2000 fine for the vandals parents or if over 18 for the vandal themselves.

Only when you put strict fines and punishment on both parents and youth will they begin to respect the law, teach their children right from wrong and to respect other people’s property.

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Martin Goss, Colchester says...
12:41pm Fri 15 Feb 08

I think some of this thread has completely missed the point. Residents are going to be out of pocket simply because several idiots have been let loose with spray cans, caused thousands of pounds of damage - the article didn't mention the broken windows which also happened. Who pays for all this to be repaired - yes the residents who have done nothing to deserve this! It looks a mess - come and have a look and speak to some of the residents if you want! Nobody deserves to be treated like this regardless of where they live and those responsible need electric bolts inserting somewhere!

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Loopy, Somewhere Over The rainbow says...
12:43pm Fri 15 Feb 08

Respect is a top-up process. As some children show no respect for their parents and some parents show no respect to their children, why should we be suprised at the general lack of respect overall? I saw a 70 year old lady standing up at the chemist today while a 13 year old sitting down . I could see she was in pain so I asked the child to get up and give his seat for the lady. While I said this the child's mother did NOT say anything like ah sorry, yes get up, etc..." I agree Respect is all about what we are taught at home by our parents. Teach them from a very early age and we wouldn't be talking about it now.

The parents are responsible and should be ashamed of themselves. What were these children doing out in the middle of the night?

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Sherlock, Colchester Needs A Litter Pick says...
12:56pm Fri 15 Feb 08

Geoff wrote:
"Respect for all!" show some respect yourself,Annoyed from Harlem is absolutely correct we should be looking and listening to see what works.Clearly imprisonment dosnt and not much else that has been tried has worked either.
I'll tell you what works Geoff !

Break a few legs - the rest will then take notice. :))

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Unknown, colchester says...
12:59pm Thu 21 Feb 08

Not really the best thing to say.
Ye sure they defaced your property and all.
But solving a crime woth another one?
its a bit barbaric.
that doesnt really make u any different from the criminals. personally i see graffiti as a from of art. this shows that colchester has nothin for youths to do apart from break the law

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adz, colchester says...
3:08pm Thu 21 Feb 08

i think people that write swear words on walls are yobs and should be punished but people that do it for art like banksy and others that are my friends are good i've started and its a great relaxtion tool. i personly feel very strongly on this topic

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