Four youths daubing graffiti on the walls of a block of flats in Grahame Park were caught on camera by Colindale Police.

The youths, aged between 15 and 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were caught red-handed by a surveillance camera, as they defaced walls and floors of a block on the Grahame Park Estate.

The youths were identified by the video and appeared at Barnet Youth Court this month.

They all pleaded guilty to the charge of criminal damage and were given a one year suspended sentence and fined £40.

The case is a result of months of covert surveillance by Colindale Police and the London Borough of Barnet.

Inspector King said: "Having been approached by Barnet Council, we worked together to find the best possible way to catch these culprits. Getting rid of graffiti costs the local authority thousands of pounds a year to clean up and the police endless hours of paperwork.

"Working in partnership is one step forward in letting people know that we are cracking down on this sort of crime and that it will not be tolerated."

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