POLICE and council bosses have held talks to discuss how to target graffiti vandals.

Brighton and Hove has been plagued by unsightly daubings all over its buildings and landmarks for years – at a huge cost to taxpayers.

As reported in The Argus yesterday, the vandalism has cost £193 a day for the past nine years, with Brighton and Hove City Council spending a total of £636,482 to clean graffiti off.

Sussex Police have now said they have met council chiefs to explore ways of clamping down on an issue that is blighting the city.

The outcome of the meetings is being kept under wraps for now but is likely to be revealed at a neighbourhoods, inclusion, communities and equalities committee meeting in the near future.

A force spokesman said: “Police and the council have held discussions on the topic of graffiti in Brighton city centre and this will be further discussed by the council at the neighbourhoods, inclusion, communities and equalities committee meeting in due course.

“Police will continue to prioritise reports of criminal activity based on a threat, risk and harm assessment.

“We would encourage anyone who witnesses any crime being committed – or anyone who has intelligence of suspected offenders – to report it to us.”

Tags have been sprayed all over buildings, particularly in the city centre and London Road area.

Lewes Road and its side streets have also been targeted heavily.

Two scrawls in particular have been spotted more regularly – one that looks like a clenched fist, seen above the Boots and Co-op stores in London Road and elsewhere, and another that says “Pluto”, commonly sprayed in purple paint.

In yesterday’s Argus we spoke to deputy council leader Gill Mitchell, who said the problem has worsened since she became a councillor 25 years ago.

Cllr Mitchell called for co-operation between authorities, primarily better links with the police, in a bid to tackle the vandalism.

She said they must work together given the stretched resources available to both services due to Government funding cuts.

Cllr Mitchell added that the council is working on a crackdown strategy which would include “using local intelligence”.

The council cleans offensive graffiti within 24 hours of it being reported from both public and private properties. Call 01273 292 929 to get graffiti vandalism removed from your property.

To report graffiti crimes, call Sussex Police on 101.