A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in Dorset after anti-police graffiti appeared around a town centre in recent days.

The arrest comes just after a further incident of graffiti was reported on wall at the side entrance of Tudor Arcade in Dorchester that the Echo understands appeared sometime in the evening of Tuesday, March 26.

Dorset Echo:

Two other incidents were reported to have taken place through the town centre over the weekend with damage seen at the horse statue in Brewery Square and on the side of a building at Trinity Street. The police also received reports of graffiti in Borough Gardens in recent days.

Officers from the Dorchester Neighbourhood Policing Team were carrying out enquiries into these incidents and arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage.

The man has since been released on police bail as further enquiries are carried out.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “Reports have been received of graffiti appearing in areas including Trinity Street, the Borough Gardens and Brewery Square in recent days, as well as a further incident in the Tudor Arcade.

“Officers from the Dorchester Neighbourhood Policing Team have been carrying out enquiries into these incidents and have now arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage. He has been released on police bail as further enquiries are carried out.

“The Neighbourhood Policing Team fully recognises the impact reports of this nature can have on property owners and members of the public who have to witness them, and we are committed to taking positive action in response.”