POLICE are stepping up patrols in Abergavenny following reports of an increase in graffiti.

A distinctive red graffiti name, also known as a 'tag' has been scrawled around shop windows and walls in the area.

The unsightly and unwanted damage to the town will be cleaned up by an ongoing project run between Monmouthshire's Youth Offending Team, One Stop Shop, the Police, and Probation Service.

However, some business owners fear the problem will never disappear.

Miles Preece, owner of family business M&D Cycles in Frogmore Street said he had noticed the increase in graffiti in the town.

"There has been a fair bit of graffiti lately. Someone obviously knows who the tag belongs to. We could do with a police presence when it's quiet to deter any possible acts of vandalism."

Jonathan Bensley, owner of Cooks Gallery, which has been in the town for 22 years, says he first spotted one of the 'tags' sprayed on the former Greggs shop windows.

"My shop window was vandalised a week last Saturday and I noticed the graffiti around the town." The mindless vandalism set Mr Bensley back a couple of hundred pounds.

"To be fair the youth offending team which cleans it up are very good but as soon as it is cleaned the graffiti is back."

Vicky Price, Youth Offending Team Manager said, "We know the negative impact that graffiti can have on a community. It increases the fear of crime and sends out the message that nobody cares. We offer a free service to remove graffiti but we rely very much on people getting in touch with us and telling us where it is. We really need residents to contact their local One Stop Shop or use the form on the website to tell us of the problem areas."

Mayor of Abergavenny, Councillor John Prosser said the culprits need to be identified.

"I am disappointed that a small minority of people still persist with senseless graffiti in our town centre. An ongoing project run between Monmouthshire's Youth Offending Team, One Stop Shop, the Police, and Probation Service, has started to make a real difference to our town by removing graffiti, and I thank them for their hard work.

"However we must not give up in our efforts to identify the culprits who deface our town and we must bring them to account, and help them understand the error of their ways. I urge anyone with information on these incidents to contact the One Stop Shop."

Crime and Disorder Reduction Officer, PC Andy Charles said, "We are aware of the issue regarding this graffiti and we have increased patrols in the areas concerned.

"Where we have CCTV cover the monitoring station has been asked to look out for any suspicious behaviour. We request that people aware of the identification of these persons should contact Abergavenny Police Station and appropriate action will be taken against the offenders.

"We will be working with the youth offending team to get the tags cleaned up of the streets of Abergavenny as soon as possible."

•You can report graffiti to the One Stop Shop on 01873 735800 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.