Is wiping crap on a car a crime?

[98elise]

My wife just called me to say that someone has smeared st all over my lotus, and on the house wall

This is the day after I told my BTL tenant that they need to leave the property due to rent arrears!

Is actually a crime? Obviously its not damaged as it will wash off, but I'd like to record it incase things start to escalate.

Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 13th June 19:24

[littleredrooster]

Criminal damage perhaps? Definitely worth reporting in case it escalates.

[10 Pence Short]

It's criminal damage. Take pictures and if you feel necessary, call the Police and report. Leave it on the car until they arrive.

[Robb F]

I would hope so!

[98elise]

Unfortunately my wife washed it off before calling me, so we have no evidence.

She's pretty worried as it happened in a short space of time while she and the kids were out.

Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 13th June 18:50

[98elise]

Double post

Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 13th June 18:51

Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 13th June 18:53

[Derek Smith]

Subject to it being put onto the vehicle by a human being with the necessary mens rea it is criminal damage. The vehicle has to be modified, ie washed, before it can be used.

[otolith]

Derek Smith said:

Subject to it being put onto the vehicle by a human being with the necessary mens rea it is criminal damage. The vehicle has to be modified, ie washed, before it can be used.

I'm remembering something to do with stickering a door being considered criminal damage, which would support your interpretation?

[98elise]

Derek Smith said:

Subject to it being put onto the vehicle by a human being with the necessary mens rea it is criminal damage. The vehicle has to be modified, ie washed, before it can be used.

Thanks, that sounds right.

So how best to report it?

Obviously I'd like the full blues and two's and a load of CSI's round, but I suspect they many be busy on more serious stuff.

Do I just call the non emergency number, or is there some other way I should report something like this?

[Mastodon2]

98elise said:

Thanks, that sounds right.

So how best to report it?

Obviously I'd like the full blues and two's and a load of CSI's round, but I suspect they many be busy on more serious stuff.

Do I just call the non emergency number, or is there some other way I should report something like this?

I think you might get further if you speak to someone in person. A diary appointment maybe? Either way, I'd definitely want a written, signed and dated copy of whatever documentation the police make, will be a good thing to keep in your back pocket in case your dodgy tenant becomes difficult to extract.

[Derek Smith]

Mastodon2 said:

I think you might get further if you speak to someone in person. A diary appointment maybe? Either way, I'd definitely want a written, signed and dated copy of whatever documentation the police make, will be a good thing to keep in your back pocket in case your dodgy tenant becomes difficult to extract.

X2.

Derek

[jazzyjeff]

Derek Smith said:

Mastodon2 said:

I think you might get further if you speak to someone in person. A diary appointment maybe? Either way, I'd definitely want a written, signed and dated copy of whatever documentation the police make, will be a good thing to keep in your back pocket in case your dodgy tenant becomes difficult to extract.

X2.

Derek

x3 Keeping regular, diarea is the way

[oyster]

jazzyjeff said:

Derek Smith said:

Mastodon2 said:

I think you might get further if you speak to someone in person. A diary appointment maybe? Either way, I'd definitely want a written, signed and dated copy of whatever documentation the police make, will be a good thing to keep in your back pocket in case your dodgy tenant becomes difficult to extract.

X2.

Derek

x3 Keeping regular, diarea is the way

[DaveH23]

littleredrooster said:

Criminal damage perhaps? Definitely worth reporting in case it escalates.

Whilst I hope this is the case and I hope the culprit is caught and coloured in using said excrement I really don’t see how this is criminal damage.

After being cleaned was there any damage?

As mentioned though keep a diary of anything that does happen?

Is there anyway the OP could set up some kind of camera?

[John145]

DaveH23 said:

Whilst I hope this is the case and I hope the culprit is caught and coloured in using said excrement I really don’t see how this is criminal damage.

After being cleaned was there any damage?

As mentioned though keep a diary of anything that does happen?

Is there anyway the OP could set up some kind of camera?

As someone mentioned earlier, action was required to put the vehicle into a usable condition hence damage. Just as the same way letting the air out of people's tyres is criminal damage!

[DaveH23]

John145 said:

DaveH23 said:

Whilst I hope this is the case and I hope the culprit is caught and coloured in using said excrement I really don’t see how this is criminal damage.

After being cleaned was there any damage?

As mentioned though keep a diary of anything that does happen?

Is there anyway the OP could set up some kind of camera?

As someone mentioned earlier, action was required to put the vehicle into a usable condition hence damage. Just as the same way letting the air out of people's tyres is criminal damage!

So driving along a dirty road is criminal damage if you have to wash your car aswell (exact same 'fix')

As I mentioned I hope the scrote is caught but I really do not agree that this is classed as damage.

[otolith]

Where would you draw the line at substances which need to be cleaned off? If not st, how about axle grease? Candle wax? Poster paint? Emulsion? Gloss paint? Spray paint?

[PAULJ5555]

But what has been damaged???? for criminal damage.

[otolith]

PAULJ5555 said:

But what has been damaged???? for criminal damage.

Damage does not need to be permanent;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_damage_in_En...

[DaveH23]

otolith said:

PAULJ5555 said:

But what has been damaged???? for criminal damage.

Damage does not need to be permanent;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_damage_in_En...

I believe he is trying to say there is no damage - just a mess.