A campaign run by the Aberdeen Evening Express has been condemned by ministers for being un-Christian to criminals.

The newspaper has been running the Smash the Vandals campaign since August following a wave of vandalism in the area, and aims to put a stop to damage to public property and get graffiti cleaned up quickly.

The criticism came during a church meeting to discuss the rising tide of vandalism, where ministers said they supported the aim of the campaign – but did not think the title was appropriate.

Rev Ian Dick, of Ferryhill Parish Church, said: “The objectives of the campaign are fine, but the image or message is that we are in a war together.

“They smash us and we smash them and it will go on and on – I would prefer if we broke the cycle of violence.

“I don’t know what the right word would be. Smash the Vandalism might do.”

However the Evening Express has defended the title of its campaign, and said: “Nobody is suggesting taking a baseball bat to the individuals responsible. We certainly don’t advocate violence.

“It might be a terrible thing to admit, but you shouldn’t believe everything you read in a newspaper.

“Or rather, some things shouldn’t be taken too literally. The campaign’s aim is what matters.”

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