Spray paint ban is 'stalinist': McDonnell

Independent representative Randal McDonnell was speaking at a meeting of Moyle Council where councillors heard details of consultation on the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Bill.

One part of the scheme is aimed at banning the sale of spray paint to younger teenagers in the hope that it has an impact on grafitti.

Cushendun-based Randal said there is "far too much surveillance in our community" and he said it is all at a cost to human rights.

Regarding the proposed ban on selling spray paint to children, Cllr McDonnell said: "If daddy wants a paint aerosol he can't send a child down to buy it".

The councillor said it was another example of "control freakery" by the government.

Independent councillor Seamus Blaney said a paint brush could do as much harm when it comes to graffiti as an aerosol spray can.

Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has welcomed the aerosol paint plan but says the ban should be on people under the age of 18 and not under-16s.

Their response said: 'NILGA welcomes actions that will help to reduce graffiti and fly posting and would make the following observations regarding the sale of aerosol paints to children under the age of 16: There are potential health benefits in controlling the sale of aerosol paints to children in terms of reducing substance abuse which NILGA would strongly support.

'Councils already successfully regulate the sale of tobacco products and butane gas lighter refills to young people. There is a robust procedure for test purchasing based on national guidelines developed by the Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services and with an annual test purchasing programme.

'The minimum age for the sale of tobacco products and butane gas lighter refills is 18 and NILGA would be of the view that 18 should also be the minimum age for the purchase/sale of aerosol paints.

'Maintaining a standard minimum age would enable councils to combine regulatory and test purchasing activities which would be more cost effective and which would comply more readily with government Better Regulation policies.

'NILGA would highlight to the department that additional resources will be required for councils to identify premises selling aerosol paints and to raise awareness of the new legislation before test purchasing can take place and we would encourage the department to work with councils in promoting and publicising the new requirements.

'There will also be additional costs for businesses selling aerosol paints in establishing new procedures and training staff (this could involve a number of large national companies and parity of regulation with GB could potentially be an issue under the Better Regulation agenda).'