Spate Of Graffiti In Winchester

Police are appealing for information following a spate of criminal damage in Winchester.

Between 4am and 5am on Saturday, May 19, 38 incidents of criminal damage took place in Winchester City Centre. 

The tags ‘BT’ and ‘BT Krew’ were written on walls, street furniture and dwellings in the city centre. 

Police have descriptions of the two people they would like to speak to: 

Person one: white, male, in his late teens to early 20s, medium height, slim build, wearing beige trousers, trainers, and a distinctive Navy coloured Jack Wills hoodie with a white circular motif on the back and JW on the front left. 

Person two: white, female, in her late teens to early 20s, slim to medium build, wearing dark clothing. 

PCSO Helen Carthew, said: “Winchester City has been plagued by a graffiti tagging campaign since July last year but this was a particularly prolific spate. The tags have nothing artistic about them, simply reading ‘BT’ or ‘BT KREW’. The cost to the taxpayer of cleaning this damage is mounting. 

“Early on Saturday, May 19, 38 incidents of this mindless damage occurred. However, those responsible on this occasion tagged bins, phone boxes and shops in the city centre, right under the CCTV cameras. With several new leads, we are getting closer to catching those responsible. 

“The male in the footage is wearing a Jack Wills hoodie with JW on the front and a distinctive circular logo on the back. Do you know anyone with a hoodie that matches this description? Would they have had opportunity to commit these crimes in the early hours of Saturday morning? 

“I would urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak to us. I would also encourage people to report incidents of graffiti to us so that we can look at any potential patterns or linked incidents.” 

Catherine Turness, Projects Manager for Winchester Business Improvement District said “The BID has a zero tolerance approach to graffiti, fly posting and other acts of vandalism and as such is funding a contractor to tend to the removal of tags on BID premises across the city.” 

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Walls Police Station by phoning 101.

From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call police on 0845 045 45 45. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.