 A New Forest schoolboy’s hard-hitting message about the misery criminal damage can cause others is set to go on display.
Budding artist Liam Bushrod, a year 6 pupil at Oakfield Primary School, Totton, is the winner of the ‘it’ poster campaign.
Liam’s colourful poster was chosen to go on the walls at police stations, libraries and leisure centres across the New Forest to deliver the Don’t Do ‘it’ message.
The winning entry, which beat competition from Year Six pupils in 34 schools in the district, carries the message ‘The word vandalism has no rhyme, but vandalism is a crime’.
The ‘it’ project was launched across the New Forest in January and is a partnership initiative involving Community First New Forest, Hampshire Constabulary and New Forest Community Safety.
 The anti-vandalism lesson plan has since been delivered to more than 2000 pupils, bringing better awareness of the effects and consequences of criminal damage.
The poster competition aimed to promote the anti-vandalism message and encourage people to report criminal damage.
Liam received his prize of a new bike from New Forest –based chief inspector Gary Cooper, who said the winning poster had “strong visual representation”.
New Forest Community Safety Partnership chairman and NFDC portfolio holder for crime and disorder Cllr Goff Beck said Liam’s poster message came across “loud and clear”.
Liam was joined at the presentation at Appletree Court, Lyndhurst, by his proud parents and sisters, representatives from Oakfield School, and project organisers PC Karen Kingsnorth and Stephanie Bell from Community First New Forest.
Chief Inspector Gary Cooper said: “We hope that the ‘it’ campaign will continue to give young people, and others, a greater awareness of their surroundings and empathy for victims of crime.
“Liam’s winning poster will now take the Don’t Do ‘it’ message further into the local communities.”
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