A MAN who daubed graffiti along houses and bus shelters in Beverley has been forced to clean it up.
Dressed in a white suit, the man scrubbed away the 21 "tags" he had sprayed along Victoria Road under the supervision of police and council officers.
The 21-year-old man confessed to police he was responsible for the graffiti after he was arrested following an appeal in the Mail.
Officers decided to deal with the man through a community resolution, meaning he would not be prosecuted if he agreed to clear up the mess.
Beverley neighbourhood PC Chris Matthews said: "This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and causing this substantial amount of criminal damage has caused distress to a lot of local residents."
The police received several calls about the damage on November 29.
The man, who has not been named, was arrested after he was named by members of the public following an appeal in the Mail. He admitted carrying out the damage.
He cleaned up the graffiti on Monday.
PC Matthews said: "I felt the best way of dealing with him was by means of the community resolution system.
"This positive means of disposal has meant the man has made amends and will sort out his misdemeanours and cleaned up the mess he has made.
"The East Riding Council has provided the equipment and cleaning products and the man spent the day in a highly visible way on the roadside cleaning off the graffiti.
"By working in partnership with the council on such matters, we can ensure the equipment needed is provided and the cleaning up can get done as quickly as possible."
Community resolution is used to deal with minor offences, such as small thefts, public disorder and criminal damage.
Instead of the offence being handled by the courts system, a community resolution is issued by the police officer dealing with the crime.
The officer decides how the offender should redeem themselves before asking the victim of the crime if they agree.
Resolutions can involve advising the offender about their behaviour, making them apologise to their victim, repairing damage they have caused or paying compensation.
Humberside police and crime commissioner Matthew Grove tweeted: "Great example of a community remedy as offender makes amends in a very visible way."
Councillor Jackie Cracknell, the council's portfolio holder for community involvement and performance, said: "It is entirely fitting that this man has been ordered to clean up the unsightly mess he was responsible for creating.
"Such graffiti is a blight on our neighbourhoods and I hope the offender learns his lesson well.
"The council and the police will not tolerate such criminal damage and I am delighted we have been able to work with the police to bring this matter to a successful resolution."
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