§ 31. Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the existing penalties for those convicted of writing graffiti on walls and fences; and whether, as an alternative to fines, he will consider making such offenders clean off the offending words under police or court supervision.
§ Mr. JohnThe Criminal Law Bill, which received its Second Reading this week, increases to£500 the maximum fine which may be imposed on conviction of an offence of criminal damage where the value of the damage done is less than£200. Offences of writing on walls or fences would be likely to fall into this category. The maximum summary fine for other offences of criminal damage is increased to£1,000 in the Bill. I am satisfied that the penalties are otherwise adequate. Under a community service order, which is also available to the courts for this kind of offence, offenders may be involved in tasks aimed at rehabilitating their environment. I would not want to introduce a more specific requirement.