Mums and dads should report tell-tale signs like paint on hands and clothes or tags - graffiti signatures - written on their children's schoolbooks as part of the council's Don't Raise an Aerosol campaign.
The Guardian's short piece doesn't mention whether parents will get sniffer dogs or training to help tell the difference between "good' or "bad" paint as they rifle through the laundry basket. There's always the risk Merton's team of graffiti officers will be swamped with people eager to shop their sons and daughters every time double art crops up on the school timetable.
The paper slips in a bit of extra detail, which was unlikely to have appeared on Merton Council's press release. "The campaign coincides with the council's Local Democracy Week, which highlights the importance of listening to young people," it chirps. "Punishment for graffiti can include an antisocial behaviour order, a fine of up to £2,500 or a two-year prison sentence."
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