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Vandalism

Whether in the 1970s or the present day, vandalism is an illegal, anti-social activity that creates a negative impression of an area and contributes to people’s fear of crime.

Defined in the Criminal Damage Act 1971 as ‘intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging any property belonging to another without lawful excuse’, vandalism is still a perennial problem. Ranging from graffiti to smashing bus shelter or phone box windows, or removing ‘Danger No Swimming’ signs as in the film, vandalism impacts on communities and could even endanger lives.

Transcription

WOMAN 1: Why do they do it?

WOMAN 2: I know what I’d like to do to them!

MAN 1: If they see anything nice, anything decent …

WOMAN: They just have to spoil it!

MAN: It’s the same in the park.

WOMAN: They knocked out all the lampposts.

And who pays out? We do!

MAN: I watched them doing it!

WOMAN: Didn’t you say anything?

MAN: What’s the point?

WOMAN: Kids do as they please now!

MAN: Look at the new underpass!

WOMAN: What about the bus shelter?

MAN: And how long had that been up?

ANOTHER MAN: About a week!

WOMAN: If that!

ANOTHER WOMAN: The police ought to do something.

WOMAN: It’s the parents, isn’t it?

MAN: We’re parents and our children don’t go round vandalising.

WOMAN: We hope they don’t. We don’t always know where they are, all the time, do we?

ANOTHER WOMAN: If I thought one of mine was behaving like this I’d …

MAN: I blame the schools.

WOMAN: It makes me so angry!

ANOTHER WOMAN: Try telling them off and they laugh in your face.

MAN: You certainly can’t reason with them!

WOMAN: If there’s nothing we can do … I just don’t believe it!

VOICE: There is something you can do.

Ring the police immediately.

You need not give your name, but dial 999.

You might save someone’s property.

You could save someone’s life.