Police make train vandals clean up their own graffiti

TEENAGE vandals were forced to clean up their acts swiftly when police made them scrub off graffiti they had daubed over a train station.

- Chris Riches

Officers then heightened the pair's embarrassment by marching them home to speak to their parents about their anti-social behaviour.

They were collared by PC Sam Steele, who was appointed as a lone traditional "beat bobby" in Maryport, Cumbria, nine months ago - and has since reduced anti-social behaviour incidents by 47 per cent.

Cumbria Police said PC Steele and colleague Kerry Harris caught the two teens marking a window frame at Maryport station, adding: "They were made to scrub it clean before being taken home to explain to parents why the police were on their doorstep."