THERE'S a great scene in the film The Untouchables when a disenchanted Elliott Ness, played by Kevin Costner, throws a piece of paper in frustration.

A veteran Irish-born cop, played by Sean Connery, tells him to pick it up, to which Ness replies: "Haven't you got anything better to do.''

"Not at this particular moment,'' comes the determined reply.

The scene encapsulates what makes a good cop. Of course officers must concentrate on the serious offending but they also have a role to intervene to maintain respect for the law on the streets.

Along with community wardens, they shouldn't turn a blind eye to offending such as someone dropping litter, offensive language, dog owners allowing their pets to foul the pavement or graffiti.

Add to that list the biggest blight on the streets of our towns and cities - chewing gum.

My heart sank this week when I looked at an area in central Middlesbrough which has recently been pedestrianised at great cost to local ratepayers.

The paving slabs - which cost £95 each - are just a few weeks old yet already they are disfigured by the black acne of chewing gum. I have noticed a similar depressing scene in recent weeks in York, Durham and Newcastle, and the reality is the gum sticks like cement and is extremely costly, and sometimes impossible, to remove.

When I suggest the country should act, most people's first reaction is similar to that of Kevin Costner in the film - don't those in authority have anything better to do?

But a little research has revealed that the cost of clearing up chewing gum damage in Middlesbrough alone would come to a seven figure sum each year. It is far greater than the cost of clearing up graffiti.

Perhaps the "turn a blind eye" brigade don't realise how much it is costing them.

Now if someone came onto your property and spray-painted your patio I suspect you would call the police and expect them to be reported for criminal damage. To my mind, if someone deliberately spat chewing gum onto your patio the offence would be exactly the same.

Social education, appealing to the public, is obviously worthwhile but it is not enough.

Clearly the chewing and bubble gum industries are massive concerns. I read recently that millions are spent on researching the next new line each year and, in a few years time, gum laced with Viagra is expected to storm the market.

What surprises me is that no government has ever taken the companies on and demanded they carry out research into alternative recipes for the stuff to make it easier to clear up.

Perhaps the threat of a litter tax might speed up the research: a 100 per cent surcharge on the cost of chewing gum on companies who have failed to take the problem seriously, the proceeds to be given to local authorities who clean up the mess.

And members of the public who are seen to spit the stuff out in the street should be told to pick it up or face being summonsed to court.

That should give the offenders and the gum companies something to chew over.

Published: 08/08/2003