The BBC state broadcasting giant, which has styled itself “the greatest force for cultural good on the face of the earth”, is spending public money glorifying graffiti vandalism.
Its Web site is publishing a cartoon called Taggerz (a reference to the vandal’s practice of spraying their personal “tag” on private and public property) about a gang called the Ruffneck Crew, which the broadcaster characterises as graffiti “artists”. “When your crew is your family, you better hope they’ve got your back” says the BBC, which is widely known as “Auntie”.
The gang leader is named “Radikal”. A rap song associated with the cartoon boasts of graffiti attacks on trains and railway stations, which are particular targets for graffiti vandals.
In its defence the BBC told the Sunday Telegraphy that “We have to accept that for some people graffiti is a political act”. It justified graffiti vandalism as the “only recourse open to” people who cannot afford to buy adverts or produce TV programmes.
The Keep Britain Tidy Campaign has accused the BBC of legitimizing graffiti vandalism.
It is illegal in Britain to watch any TV, including commercial, satellite and cable, without a license from the BBC. The Corporation currently charges £121 a year for the privilege.