Police tag vandals at home

Scotland Yard has found a new way of tracking down graffiti vandals - by searching their bedrooms.

Police have discovered that the culprits often practise tell-tale "tags" - graffiti signatures - on their own bedroom walls, doors and even record sleeves before repeating the same scrawl in public places. The tags are a common sight plastered across London's buildings. The Yard is also working with British Transport Police to combat window-etching on the capital's trains.

Police have switched their tactics from surveillance to obtaining warrants to search the homes of suspects.

So far, 10 people have been arrested and 22 have been charged or received final warnings.

Other evidence collected includes spray cans and photographs of offenders at crime scenes. "This has proved to be a more effective and less time-intensive way of dealing with the problem," said Detective Inspector Paul Anstee from Barnet Police.