POLICE say they are closing in on graffiti artists following a spate of new scrawlings along Oxford’s canal and river towpaths.

Sergeant Gordon Kille, of Thames Valley Police, said the force was consulting experts in its hunt for persistent graffiti artists.

His comments came after the Canal & River Trust claimed it was a “daily battle” and residents said walls freshly cleaned were being vandalised again within days.

But Sgt Kille said experts hired by the force could identify those repeatedly scrawling graffiti were identifiable by their ‘tags.’

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He said: “After the recent outbreak of further graffiti we are consulting those experts. We are confident we have been able to identify particular people.

“Each one tends to have their own signature style.

“We will look to take enforcement action against them, to see if we can gather evidence that we can take to a trial in court.”

And Sgt Kille urged residents to report graffiti to the police if they discovered it.

He added: “Officers do not always see it on patrol if it is down an alley or in a corner, but if it is recorded as a crime then we can investigate.

“We will continue to work with our partners at Oxford City Council to bring people to justice and make the area clean.”