Graffiti vandal banned from bus top decks
5:23pm Friday 21st September 2007
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A PERSISTENT vandal has been slapped with an Asbo banning him from the top deck of public transport buses.
The order, made by Greenwich magistrates on 17-year-old Billy Murrell, is the first one by Transport for London (TfL) for graffiti.
Murrell, from Plumstead, has a history of convictions for criminal damage on public transport.
These include damaging buses and other public property using marker pens and vandalising a Tube carriage.
Jeroen Weimar, who heads TfL's transport policing and enforcement directive, said: "Murrell's vandalism has affected many other bus and train users.
"This Asbo demonstrates the role that TfL can play in resolving crime and disorder problems in our community.
"TfL will only use its powers in relation to Asbos when it is necessary to do so, but this shows that we are prepared to take action to protect public transport for our passengers."
The Asbo is valid for three years.
CONDITIONS OF THE ORDER
The Asbo bars him from:
Entering any depot, siding or other part of London Underground property or railway property or any other transport company's property which is not open to the public throughout England and Wales.
Carrying unset paint in any form of container, permanent marker pens, shoe dye or permanent ink, paint stripper, a grinding stone, glass cutting equipment or glass etching solution or paste anywhere mentioned above and any public place in England and Wales.
Aiding, abetting, counselling or encouraging anyone who was attempting or committing any form of unlawful damage towards any property not belonging to or being under the direct authorised control of the defendant throughout England and Wales.
Travelling on the top deck of any public transport bus within England and Wales.
If he breaches the order he could be sentenced to a two-year detention and training order, with 12 months to be served in custody and 12 months to be served in the community.
When he turns 18 any breach could carry a five-year jail sentence.
Your Say YourShopper
Billy Murrell, a 17-year-old from Plumstead in S.E. London
Billy Murrell, a persistent graffiti vandal from South East London, has become the first recipient of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) granted to  Transport for London (TfL) by Greenwich Magistrates. The civil order also bans him from the top deck of buses throughout England and Wales for three years.

Murrell, a 17-year-old from Plumstead, has a history of convictions for criminal damage on public transport, including vandalising a Tube carriage in Brixton station and for damaging buses and other public property using marker pens.

This is Transport for London's first Anti-Social Behaviour Order against a graffiti vandal — TfL was granted the power to apply for Asbos by the Home Secretary in September 2006.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Order was issued at Greenwich Magistrates Court on 12 September and also bans him from carrying any permanent marker pens or any glass cutting equipment on London Underground, railway property or any other transport provider's property.

Metropolitan and Transport police have been made aware of Murrell's Asbo, and have distributed his photo.

'''In detail, Murrell is prohibited from:'''

*Entering any depot, siding or other part of London Underground property or railway property or any transport providers property which is not expressly open to the public whether on payment or otherwise throughout England and Wales
 
*Carrying the following articles, in any area specified (above) or in any public place, namely any form of unset paint in any form of container, any form of permanent marker pen, any form of shoe dye or permanent ink in any form of container, any form of paint stripper in any form of container, any form of grinding stone, glass cutting equipment, glass etching solution or paste, throughout England and Wales
 
*Aiding, abetting, counselling or encourage any person who was attempting or committing any form of unlawful damage towards any property not belonging to or under the direct authorised control of the defendant throughout England and Wales 

*Travelling on the top deck of the any public transport bus within England and Wales

If without reasonable excuse the defendant does anything which he is prohibited from doing by this order, he shall be liable to a detention and training order, which has a maximum term of 24 months - 12 months of which is custodial and 12 months in the community 

Upon turning 18 he will be liable to imprisonment up to five years.