A pilot of the scheme, held in Orton, proved to be a hit after police published the information they had gathered on posters they put up around local schools.

Culprits' classmates called officers to tell them who they thought was responsible after recognising the "tags" or signature symbols.

Police are looking to extend the initiative to the whole of Peterborough as part of a drive to clean up the city and clamp down on vandalism.

Helen O'Driscoll, who is coordinating the project, said: "We trialled this in Orton and it worked really well.

"We logged all instances of graffiti in the area and took photographs of the tags.

"Basically it enables us to gather as much intelligence as possible about graffiti, where it is done and who may have done it."

As well as the database, plans are also afoot to get young vandals caught painting with spray cans to confront their actions.

Youngsters caught causing graffiti at the Voyager School in Mountsteven Avenue were recently taken out by Peterborough City Council's street cleansing team and police officers to remove their handiwork.

A plan is now being drawn up to look at making that initiative citywide, too.

Instead of seeing younger children arrested for committing the acts, they will be made to clear it up instead.

Ms O'Driscoll added: "Obviously it is embarrassing to have to clean up graffiti and, hopefully, as a result they won't do it again."

Senior street scene officer for cleansing and graffiti removal at Peterborough City Council Mark Horsley said: "Graffiti blights our city and tackling anti-social social behaviour is a priority.

"By working with the police our aim is to educate youngsters by showing them the consequences of their actions."

Cabinet member for the environment and community safety at Peterborough City Council Councillor Graham Murphy said: "I think it is encouraging that the police are working with the community to erode environmental crime."