KNOE (and other 'taggers')

[whole diary]

[Kingfisherdart]

I travel with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) at least three times a week, and I'm sure others have noticed the graffiti works of 'Knoe'.

I've seen this tag on windows, panels, doors, toilets - you name it, it's there, and it seems on every single piece of rolling stock the company has, including the loco hauled sets and hire-ins, not to mention at stations.

Has BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) or anyone else ever been able to trace 'Knoe' - I find it incredible that he/she has been able to brand every item of rolling stock without being caught!

If not - perhaps we need to make a concerted effort to track down this pest, and get them to repaint every panel/door they've etched into....

[smithy]

The tag KNOE or KNOE29 is everywhere on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network,i have a suspicion he/she is located in the Westbury/Frome area as there is a road sign on the Westbury-Chapmanslade road that has had the KNOE treatment.

[thetrout]

There is "Tear" as well... certainly a well travelled individual... It's probably easier to say where I havn't seen their work...

I once wondered if they were based in the Frome Area too... I've seen their work on a Bus Shelter near Brunel Way, which is not exactly a short walk from Frome Station...!

Interestingly enough, i've also seen a "Tear" tag on a grafitti wall mural (sp?) in Wells... I doubt it's related though because it didn't look the same style of tag... But it could be... :\

[chrisoates]

Youtube link mentioning him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT68DPqCSpw

[12hoursunday]

I have seen tags from this idiot on railway safety signs as far away as Hereford. Also Slough Maidenhead and Didct has a resident numby who goes as the name as Dock. Hope they dont come running to me when a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) hits them up the arse when carrying out this pointless pastime.

In the past we've been plagued with TEAR, CUT, FAULT, CK1 or CKONE

The best one I saw really sums this bunch of wallys up. He/She went by the name of THICK   

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) press release:

^46,000 GRAFFITI VANDAL WHO FILMED HIMSELF IS SENTENCED FOLLOWING BTP INVESTIGATION

A graffiti vandal and cannabis grower who caused more than ^45,000 worth of damage to trains in Essex was caught out after he used his mobile phone to take trophy footage of himself.

Basildon Crown Court heard how Robert Martin, 23, struck numerous times at railway sidings near to Southend Victoria station, spraying his tag ^ WEAR ^ on to trains under the cover of darkness.

Martin, of Branksome Avenue, Hockley, used his phone to video himself vandalising the trains and to take pictures of himself posing with several large cannabis plants he had grown in his back garden.

Following an investigation by British Transport Police detectives, Martin was today (Friday 8 October) sentenced to 12 months in prison for the offences, which took place between October 2009 and May 2010.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Dave Rabbitt, said that Martin caused damage to 11 trains in total, all of which had to be taken out of service and professionally cleaned. ^This young man is a prolific graffiti vandal who caused substantial damage to a number of trains in the name of what he presumes is art,^ said Det Con Rabbitt. ^The fact is that Martin^s spray can endeavours were nothing more than wanton acts of vandalism that inconvenienced rail passengers and cost a great deal of money to clean up.^

Martin was first arrested on the evening of 8 October 2009 after he was challenged by a train driver who had spotted him near to a train with a freshly painted WEAR tag on it.

He ran off, but was stopped and arrested outside the station by two BTP uniformed police constables.

His mobile phone was seized and examined by officers, who found the video footage of him spray-painting and the photos of him with his cannabis plants.

Detectives continued their investigations and found a picture of Martin posing by a wall covered in graffiti on the social networking site MySpace.

^The fact that Martin was so keen on keeping a visual record of his exploits meant that in the end he was the architect of his own downfall,^ said Det Con Rabbitt. ^The footage was powerful circumstantial evidence that proved vital in securing his guilty plea.^

Martin was bailed pending further enquiries, but continued to offend on railway ground, committing further offences in the Southend area in April and May 2010.

^That he continued to offend while on bail shows his utter disregard for the law,^ added Det Con Rabbitt. ^I welcome the sentence that has been handed down to him and hope that it serves as a deterrent to others.^

Andy Sanders, head of safety for National Express East Anglia, said: "This successful prosecution of a prolific graffiti vandal resulted from some excellent partnership working between our employees and the BTP. In conjunction with our BTP colleagues, we will take all necessary steps to eradicate the actions of those who vandalise trains which inconveniences our customers, as well as causing an unnecessary safety risk through lineside and depot trespass."

Martin was charged with and pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal damage and one count of cannabis cultivation. A further graffiti offence, at Grove Park depot in south London on 3 June 2010 was taken into consideration.

[JayMac]

DBK (Def Bombin Kru) are also quite prolific around Bristol. There's half a dozen 'artists' in this Kru apparently.

However, I fail to see any artistic merit in etching 'DBK' all over the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) at Shirehampton. Or trespassing on railway land to 'tag' a coal wagon at St Andrew's Road.

[SDS]

Remember tox?

[JayMac]

Can't say I've seen any TOX10's around the network, but I've not really been looking.

Here's a news story from last year about said TOX....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8249419.stm

.... from which I've learnt that 'bombing' is the term used within the graffiti community for painting trains. Sort of explains what DBK stands for.

[devon_metro]

Remember tox?

He's still/recently active is he not? Fairly sure there are some TOX09 around Paddington!

[mjones]

FUME was quite busy around the approaches to Paddington about 10 years ago... was he caught, or did he grow up eventually...?

[JayMac]

I think it maybe a case of these 'taggers' growing up.

There maybe an evolutionary thing going on here. Spray painting here, there and everywhere could be regarded as a modern form of territorial p*ssing.

Young males of most mammalian species mark their territory when they reach the age of sexual maturity.

[broadgage]

I feel that this should be moved to the frequent posters area
Public disscusion might encourage these vandals, there best kept in the private area.

[grahame]

I feel that this should be moved to the frequent posters area
Public disscusion might encourage these vandals, there best kept in the private area.

As far as I can see, this thread has shown nothing but strong disapproval, and has pointed out the severe penalties that will be incurred if the perpetrator is caught; that is hardly "encouraging".  It does bring the practise to a slightly wider audience (we're not so vain at "Coffee Shop" that we think we have BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) sized coverage  ) and there's a positive note there in that it might encourage someone who wouldn't think twice if they saw someone 'tagging' to report it.   In fact - let me make sure that the balance here is very much in favour of catching the taggers ...

"If you have reasonable grounds to think that you're seeing someone damaging railway property, please call the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or in an emergency on 999"

[Brucey]

I've noticed quite a bit of KNOE29 on the SVB line recently.

Taken from the platform at Redland station

Looks very recent as the grass/weeds/plants are still covered in white spray paint.

Couldn't get a photo, but there are also some KNOE tags on the portal to the tunnel at Montpelier (on the SRD side).

Seems he/she (most likely to be he) is very well travelled round our region.