§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Department is taking in assisting the police to enforce the ban on sales of aerosol paints to under-16s. [172497]
§ Ms BlearsWe are in discussion with relevant stakeholders as to what further measures might be necessary to ensure the effective enforcement of these provisions.
The Together Action Line—0870 220 2000—is also available to practitioners throughout England and Wales to provide help and support in tackling antisocial behaviour. This includes police officers with queries on the aerosol paint ban. Throughout March we ran a series of Together Academies across the country to help professionals develop best practice in addressing all forms of anti-social behaviour.
These new powers are just one part of measures to tackle graffiti through our Together campaign on antisocial behaviour. For example, 12 pilot local authorities are testing new powers to clean graffiti from street furniture and public transport property. In addition our 852W "name that tag" campaign, encouraging the public to report "taggers" sends a clear message to graffiti vandals that we will deal with the problem.