Reward scheme launched to crack down on vandalism

Officers will be working with Crimestoppers over the coming weeks to bring more people to justice for criminal damage in Stockton, Thornaby, Billingham and Yarm.

Anyone contacting Crimestoppers will be rewarded with cash or vouchers if their information leads to "a successful conclusion", such as a conviction, police warning or an anti-social behaviour order.

The scheme, which was launched at the recently targeted Riverbank Children's Centre, in Thornaby, is accompanied by a poster headlined "Know who's doing this in your street".

Inspector Andy Fox, of Stockton Police, said: "We received a bit of money from the Home Office to help tackle criminal damage, which accounts for 30 per cent of our crime.

"Despite a number of initiatives, we don't seem to be making much of an impact. Many people know who is committing these crimes, but just don't say anything, so our detection rate is low.

"This is an awareness campaign, and we are targeting people with leaflet drops, posters and publicity in the newspapers.

"We are offering cash rewards and mobile phone and iTunes vouchers in the hope that people will come forward with information.

If people ring up Crimestoppers, they won't have to leave their names and they will still get the rewards.

"We recently received £30,000 to help us tackle criminal damage.

Obviously nowhere near that amount is being spent on this scheme, but we are using it on other projects as well."

The other projects include mobile CCTV cameras in hotspot areas and cleaning up graffiti.

Insp Andy Fox said: "This (campaign) is just one of them.

It is to make people aware that it is their area and that we want to help them clean it up.

"The campaign will keep going until it runs out but, obviously if it proves a success, then we will try and get some more funding."

The Riverbank Children's Centre has been hit by a vandals on a number of occasions in recent weeks. Anyone with any information is asked to call Crimestoppers, on 0800-555111.