TEIGNMOUTH councillors intend to revive an anti-graffiti task force as more scrawlings blight the town.

They put forward suggestions at a committee meeting on Tuesday to combat the menace, and Cllr David Cox reminded that a partnership between the local authorities and the police had been suspended in the past, but could easily be reconvened.

The scheme involved offering a reward for identifying culprits, who in most cases would be ordered to clean up the mess under ‘restorative justice’.

This was better than putting youngsters into the criminal justice system, and having their lives blighted with a criminal record.

All the research showed that graffiti should be removed as quickly as possible, as leaving it could attract even more vandalism.

The mayor, Cllr Paul Burgess, said the problem could probably never be totally eradicated, but a few culprits were giving the majority of ‘fantastic’ young people in the town a bad name. Hazeldown Primary School pupils had recently written in with observations on the matter, and they could be invited to come and address the council.

Cllr Robert Phipps complained there was still graffiti on the seawall from the summer. He painted out some of the worst daubings, and had asked Teignbridge to clean up the rest.

But eventually Teignbridge told him it was not their responsibility, but was down to the Environment Agency. He did not think the agency would be very interested in cleaning it up.

Cllr Cox said it was ‘their town’, and they would have to do it themselves rather than rely on other bodies.

Cllr Sylvia Russell thought the views of young people should be sought on the issue. She recalled a visit to the community school to talk to pupils, and added: ‘It was hard to get their views on anything. We did most of the talking. But it would be worth asking them what they think.’

Cllr Alison Eden asked if voluntary groups cleaning graffiti would be covered by public liability insurance, and the town clerk, Tracey Higgs, responded that if it was under the auspices of the town council, the council’s insurance would be in force.

Cllr Jacqui Orme complained there was little for young people to do in Teignmouth, and they should be encouraged to come and talk to the council about issues.

Committee chairman Cllr Dave Matthews suggested they seek somewhere in the town where street art, rather than graffiti, could be painted to create public interest.

Earlier Peter Williams, speaking during public participation, described the graffiti epidemic in Portugal, and warned they did not want the same to happen in Teignmouth. The longer it was left, the more was added, and he urged the council to take action to nip it in the bud.