Two arrests after obscene graffiti sprayed onto houses and businesses in Southwick

Police were alerted to 16 separate offences of criminal damage on Monday and Tuesday this week involving obscenities daubed over houses and businesses in Southwick.

An investigation was promptly launched and on Tuesday a member of the public passed on information to the Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations (SARA) Project based at Austin House, Shakespeare Street.

That intelligence led to police identifying two males – aged 32 and 17 – who were swiftly arrested and taken into custody.

Enquiries are ongoing into the spate of incidents, which officers are treating as linked.

One of the men arrested has since been released on police bail while the other remains under investigation.

Sergeant Claire Wood said: “Intentional acts of criminal damage are totally unacceptable so upon seeing this graffiti spate across Southwick, we immediately launched an investigation and worked with both the council and Gentoo to clean the sites.

“We were aided when a member of the public dropped into Austin House and passed on intelligence which corroborated a number of our enquiries.

"As a result, we were able to place two males under arrest and they were taken into custody for further questioning.

“I’d like to thank the resident who did the right thing by coming in and speaking to us – and we would encourage others who have information or want to speak to an officer to visit us at the SARA Project – we are here for you.”

The SARA Project, which was launched in September, brings together a number of key organisations and support services in Southwick – including police, the local authority, social services, housing, education and health bodies.

To find out more about the project, search ‘Let’s Talk Sara’ on Facebook.

To report an incident, you can visit the team at Austin House, use the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or call 101.

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