There is no way graffiti will be stamped out until the Government is persuaded to impose a total ban on the production, sale and import of paint aerosols.
Why should the majority of the population have to put up with the mess these scrawlers create and find the millions it costs to clean it off in order to safeguard the rights of the minority who use paint aerosols for legitimate purposes?
On January 10, the Home Office minister, Charles Clarke, stated in a written parliamentary answer to Dr Jenny Tonge MP: "There are no plans at present to restrict the sale of spray paints to juveniles. This would penalise young people who have a legitimate reason for their purchase."
On February 22, I wrote to Mr Clarke, asking: "I would be grateful if you could please tell me what is your estimate of how many youngsters are purchasing spray paints for legitimate reasons and what these legitimate reasons are?"
Because I have received no reply, I can only presume the minister does not know.
There are alternatives. We all managed perfectly well before these things were invented. Away with the spray and ban the can.
-Philip Sidney, Shirley Church Road, Croydon
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