TWO youths who graffitied part of Salisbury city centre have been forced to clean off the damage – after being dragged into the police station by their parents.

Following a public appeal to identify the lads by Wiltshire Police on social media, it was their parents who recognised them and told the force.

The duo then fully admitted committing the offences and were forced to scrub off the ink, which had been drawn with marker pens on the former Game store, next to the Poultry Cross.

Salisbury Journal:

Regarding the punishment, a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “Because they have shown remorse for their actions and admitted doing the graffiti, they were eligible for a community resolution, which took place this morning by the Poultry Cross.

“Both suspects spent over an hour cleaning off graffiti in the city centre whilst being educated on the impact that vandalism has on the local community by an accompanying police officer and a ranger from Salisbury BID.”

Inspector Pete Sparrow has added: ‘The fact that these two have taken responsibility for their actions is to be commended.

“We will take all necessary steps to ensure that we don’t unnecessarily criminalise youths, and getting them both to put something back into their local community is the best way to prevent them from committing any similar offences again.

“I hope this sends a clear message to others that might want to vandalise Salisbury: We have an excellent CCTV system, and when you are caught we will hold you to account.”