SIR – In November and December 2002, The Comet featured a number of letters from concerned residents about the amount of graffiti in Hitchin and Letchworth. Subsequently, North Herts District Council launched an initiative to combat the problem. Part of t

SIR - In November and December 2002, The Comet featured a number of letters from concerned residents about the amount of graffiti in Hitchin and Letchworth. Subsequently, North Herts District Council launched an initiative to combat the problem.

Part of this initiative led to the creation of a specific area on their website where residents could report graffiti and where the following statement appears: "The Council policy is to remove graffiti from public view within the boundaries of North Hertfordshire District Council as quickly as possible using a defined operational structure and timetable. There is a growing consensus that the problem of graffiti, if left unaddressed, contributes to an environment where crimes of a more serious nature flourish and can quickly degrade a neighbourhood. Where graffiti is left untouched, property values go down, businesses fold or move on, new businesses refuse to move in".

I should say that the above statement is absolutely spot-on and I could not agree more as studies have proven to be true. Therefore the issue of graffiti and its swift removal is surely extremely important.

Considering the importance of this issue and the council's policy statement, why is it when I travel around Hitchin and Letchworth and other areas, I see so much graffiti, particularly in the form of tagging? I know that the council have officers and inspectors, whose job it is to deal with this, why can't they see what I, and no doubt everyone else, can see?

Mr RUSSELL

Hitchin