PCC to work with graffiti artists

A graffitied Thetford underpass is due to get a makeover thanks to a community art project announced by Norfolk’s PCC Lorne Green.

Having heard concerns from local residents about graffiti in the town centre, Lorne met with the Thetford policing team and community members  to help them take action.

Meeting with a residents group in Thetford in September, Lorne Green announced that funding he has approved so and that local children and young people would soon have the opportunity to express their street art talents in a constructive way and play their part in the redevelopment of the Thetford underpass.

"I regard it an essential part of my duty  as PCC is to find out about issues affecting our communities, and to bring the police and the public closer together”, said Lorne. “I want to encourage and inspire police and local communities to work more closely together to address problems in their area and, where possible, will support them in that effort.

“A number of Thetford residents voiced their concerns about graffiti and the impact it has on their community, so I invited them to work with local officers to take action. Part of the plan put to me was to redevelop the underpass with graffiti boards.”

With the support of Norfolk Police, Norfolk County Council and Thetford Academy, local school children and police cadets will work with a graffiti/mural artist to spray murals onto boards which can be fixed to the underpass.

“As well as improving the look of the area and addressing the concerns voiced by residents, this is about giving local young people pride in the project and discouraging future graffiti, vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the Thetford area,” Lorne added.

“This is just one example of how the police and public are coming together to tackle problems affecting their communities. Across the county, residents and local policing teams are planning their own projects to tackle the issues of concern to them, and I look forward to working with them.”