A clean-up operation is to begin to rid graffiti from bus shelters, telecommunications cabinets and road signs between Newport and Wootton after a ‘crew’ went on a spray paint frenzy earlier this week.
The ‘artwork’ – which appeared overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday – consists of a 5-pointed star with the number 4 written inside it and, in some instances, ’22 crew’ written next to it. It has been suggested that the ‘4’ refers to the Southern Vectis bus route between Ryde and East Cowes.
The graffiti has appeared on dozens of pieces of street furniture on Wootton High Street, Racecourse and Fairlee Road – including the ‘Welcome to Newport’ signs.
It is assumed that a group of feral youths are responsible for the criminal damage, with 1 Island Echo reader dubbing them ‘low lives that are a waste of oxygen’.
In a joint statement, Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council have said:
“We are currently assessing the extent of the damage and the type of clean-up required for each site so we can remove the graffiti as swiftly as possible.”
Southern Vectis has also commented on the situation, with Operations Manager Simon Moye saying:
“This act of vandalism is extremely disappointing – for us and, I’m sure, for our customers.
“The graffiti has been reported to Island Roads, who are responsible for the bus stops on behalf of Isle of Wight Council, and they will take appropriate action.”
There has been further anti-social behaviour in Newport overnight with a flower bed decimated outside Boots in the High Street.
Speaking about the vandalism to the flowers, Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council’s Vice Chair, Councillor Martin Oliver has said:
“This is such a shame and sad to see, an outrageous act of vandalism to an area that gives so much pleasure to residents and shoppers”.
UPDATE @ 10:00 – The clean-up of the graffiti on the bus stops and signs is underway.
Why not look on CCTV oh hang on the council cut that service
Because the police got all the fine money, whilst Island roads paid for the service? Can’t expect a service paid by nothing….yet chuck endless blank cheques at a floating joke?
This is a strong sign of large gang becoming active ! Many new faces have come to start a new life here on the island
4*22 is 88, I am almost completely kinda certain that perhaps this might almost be a neo-nazi group
Red star!! Obviously a far left revolutionary gang!! More probably a bunch of mindless imbeciles trying to be big shots.
It’s not a political movement or a racial movement, it’s just a few idiots who swapped their crayons for paint, and it’s certainly not art either.
What a freaking stupid troll comment !
Silly extra.D……back to your crayons… Hang on a minute?
Need to work on their can work.
No1 wants to see a s##t tag
Lol… IOW massive!!!!
So the Island Echo’s response was to name them and give them the attention they crave?! Surely common sense dictates that you report the damage and vandalism but avoid naming them… now you’ve given them an incentive to cause more vandalism!?
Not just IE, it’s on Facebook, County press and other news feeds. Yes agree now they getting publicity will increase doing it more, like arsonist in East Cowes or a serial killer – these weirdos get off on publicity.
The bus route between Newport and East Cowes is route 5, not 4
The route mentioned in the report is East Cowes-Ryde, which is the route 4
That’s not artwork, looks on a par with a 3 year old’s doodles.
They’ll probably be at it again given the lack of skill.
What a load of knobs!
The Southern Vectis service from Newport to East Cowes is the number 5 route, not 4.
Catch the vandals and bring back the birch and public flogging.
Some call it street art, others call it what it is, and it is what happens when parents are a waste of space allowing kids out in the streets at night like this.
If you were to catch one and do him/them/it some damage, you would get done. So what we need to do is follow them home and ‘street art’ where they live, preferably with the parent (normally single) standing on the doorstep to see how impressed they are!
It has been coming though and this is just the start. Anyone visiting from London will notice how we lack this sort of crap generally. Mind you, once upon a time our streets were also very clean and tidy!
‘Street art’ ??? Can’t see the artists getting their GCSE’s in art, if any GCSE’s at all. Fine the breeders that produced them then name them.
Trouble is they let that joke of an artist called Banksy do it so why should this be different to them. They all want locking up including Banksy.
Banksy’s work sells for millions and is put to good causes, mainly because it is art.
This is not, this is just crap.
But why does his so called artwork appear on other people’s property without their permission?
“So called”
idiot
What a ridiculously shallow comment
These are the simple-minded scrawls of retarded scumbags. Nothing more than that. Just clean it off and ignore them. They will melt back into the background noise of brain-dead, inbred scum where they belong. Nothing to see here.
It’s the drug dealing gang starting to make moves on the island. Apparently they have guns too. Beware peeps, new scum is coming
It’s ok because they are “extremely peaceful”
It might be art to some, why is a Banksy regarded as artwork in all the papers and sold for large amounts of money ?
This is the sign of a group of up and coming artists who could turn quite possibly in to the island own Banksy.
Can we not commission them to do some art on the floating bridge( it might then become an asset the council could sell)
Don’t talk rubbish
did you see any of this graffiti ?
worst tags I’ve ever seen – these guys should be really embarrassed by what a pathetic job they’ve done
Stupid comment!
Bring back the birch.
Not with our inept police force and judiciary thanks… How often would they be getting the right people?
Best comment of the day Dave!
just anther day on the isle of Wight
This will never stop until there is a deterrent. Convicted street vandals should be dressed in pink overalls and made to clean up the mess. It’s called community payback. Ok there is going to be a cost but hopefully in the long term less offenders less cost. Unless someone has a better idea.
How about 24/7 monitoring of the islands CCTV cameras paid out of the policing budget
Probably just kids that want their 15 minutes of fame which you’re giving them . I mean what kind of name is 22 crew? Absolute imbeciles
IQ level maybe
22 Crew. AKA a bunch of tw#ts!
The new Newport penis particulars
When they eventually catch them, make them clean it all off with their prized JD Sports wear….. that’ll learn em.
Was gonna say, CCTV. Can’t believe they don’t have that in Newport. Really? Hoe ant make the scumbags that did it clean it off?
Catch the culprits and suspend their benefits and their parents benefits.
Why should us taxpayers have to pay for their damages.
Must be cctv, dashcam footage, ring doorbell or eye witnesses to the moronic, knuckle dragging, brain-dead, pond life that did this. No doubt they will be signing on before long, looking forward to a career on benefits and raising a flock of genetically suspect beings who will model their elder’s behaviour moving us ever closer to complete societal meltdown.
Named after their IQ, no doubt.
We are getting a lot of new face’s on the island that like all that gang crap
Pure 1st class scum…. They will get caught smack wrist and get sent on there way…while us tax paying people will foot the bill
It seems that the miscreant is awarding one star to the number 4 bus service. 22Crew could be his name given the tw*tty names that chav parents give their kids these days, such as Hayydenn, Oliviyah, Deezel, Dzyre, Iamuniq, Hendrixx, Maxx, and Koopa.
Alternatively, perhaps this gang of saddos can be identified by the fact they all wear ballet TUTUs or perhaps they are big fans of Desmond Tutu.
Not street art at all. I drove through from Newport to Ryde Wednesday, it looked like they started in Fairlee and ran out of paint in Fishbourne. Stopped in lay byes and convenient places so were probably in a car. Sort of things football hooligans do when their side has won a game and are bragging about the score.
Great you gave the infamous “22 Crew” a mention. More like 22 Brew
“Tagging” is supposed to show how brave you are by you intruding on another gangs’ turf. Doesn’t really work on the island does it…..