VANDALS who scrawl graffiti are more likely to get caught, thanks to a new police database.

The system will record different tags and symbols spotted across Dartford and Gravesham to help police identify new culprits and trace established offenders.

It will also be used by schools and to identify hotspots so extra CCTV cameras can be set up, deployed and funded by the police.

Money was allocated at the end of August to develop the computer software.

The database is expected to be extended to Gravesham in December after kicking off in Dartford next month. It is hoped it will go countywide if successful. Leader of Gravesham Council Councillor Rosemary Leadley said: “We welcome the new database and the key element to complement the council’s current drive to reduce incidents of graffiti in Gravesham.” The idea was put forward by Detective Constable Stephen Dingwall, who has collected photographs of tags and material from school books while working on the problem in Dartford in the last 18 months.

His findings will start up the database and officers will be able to add new material and access information to help with their own investigations.

DC Dingwall says at least £25,000 worth of damage caused by graffiti artists has been investigated since he started tackling the problem.

He said: “It’s just breeding further anti-social behaviour where scrawling tags escalates to more serious crimes like robberies and burglaries. This database will help us nip the problem in the bud.” What do you think? To text the Editor, simply send the keyword sln7 followed by a space and then your comment to 80408. Texts cost 25p plus your operator text charge.