Driven up the wall by graffiti | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

On Wednesday we ran an article highlighting the outbreak of graffiti ? or scribbling as we refer to it ? in Christchurch over the holidays. The response from readers has been huge, and today we publish some letters. We will run more next week?

Scribblers and their mindless daubings really annoy me. I suspect that these individuals may only have been fitted with a brain the size of a peanut, walk around with arms that reach to the ground and dribble a lot. But that still does not give them an excuse to mutilate other people's property. My answer to your question about what I think the authorities should do with those responsible is simple.

1. If caught and found guilty, cut off both hands (let's see them operate a spray can with no hands) or 2. Strip them naked and spray them with a permanent dye... lots of dirty colours and jagged lines.. concentrating on all parts of the body that the public get to see. In fact, tattooing them with scribbles comes to mind as well. What would I do if I caught someone scribbling on my fence? Nail him/her firmly to the fence, facing outward with arms and legs spread wide, then paint them with their own paint. Place a sign beside them, on the fence, advising the public to help themselves to scribble whatever they like over the offender. But seriously... the offenders need to be made to take responsibility for their mindless actions and be made to clean up the messes of their own and others' (those we haven't caught yet) vandalism. This should be a sentence that would last at least a year (not just a weekend) and possibly be seven days a week. Scribble-cleaning tasks would be set by the authorities and if they are not completed, or the offender doesn't do the work on time, the punishment becomes more severe, eventually ending in life imprisonment or worse! Oh, and the offender has to supply the cleaning materials. ? Don, Redwood.

I wish to respond to the invitation to comment on the spate of graffiti/scribbling that has spiralled out of control. I live in the eastern suburbs (Avondale ? near the rowing clubs) and am angry at the horrendous mess appearing on every possible surface. My sister and brother-in-law are coming out from England next Tuesday to stay with me for three weeks and I am already feeling ashamed about the impression they will get of our NOT-so-beautiful city.

My suggested ideal punishment is to 'do unto others...' and spray the offenders with permanent paint so that EVERYONE will know who they are and point at them/humiliate them and they will bear the brunt of the anger and frustration that homeowners, shop owners and the general public feel about THEIR property being defaced. Realistically, I say the police, community watch and council members should devise a programme to catch the offenders and make them clean up their own mess as well as doing additional community service, so that they start to appreciate what it means to be a responsible member society and make a worthwhile contribution instead of persisting on their path of destruction. ? Olivia, Avondale

I think that graffiti is shocking and that parents should be held accountable for children's childish behaviour. This is personal property and the damage mindless and foolish. The answer is simple ? get mother and father along with the offender or offenders to clean the mess off. I recently heard of a person who had cleaned off the graffiti one day only to catch the person the next day so he took off the can from the offender and sprayed him from head to toe with the contents ? Reeboks, hair, the brand of jeans, the lot. He told the offender to go home and explain that to mum or dad. Asked if he was afraid of charges that may be brought against him, he said, "No, I'm sure the judge would see reason". PS ? He had no more problems with graffiti. ? John

A challenge for Christchurch City Council: Instead of spending $500,000 on cleaning up scribbling, use the money to set up a campaign for a "no tagging" policy and a youth programme for regular graffiti competitions in each suburb in an allocated park area, to help enhance youth potential and artistic abilities. Only by repetitive messaging will the youth get the "message". Constructive, creative graffiti is tight, not tagging. Positive actions produce positive outcomes. ? Bea, Riccarton