POLICE today arrested 10 men suspected of daubing graffiti on the railways around Glasgow.

The dawn swoops took place on the first day of a UK-wide crackdown against vandalism on the rail network.

British Transport Police knocked on the doors of nine men from Glasgow and one from Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, at around 7am.

It's understood most of the men were identified by police because their graffiti "tags" resemble their real names.

A BTP spokesman said the suspects were aged between 17 and 25 and reports would be submitted to the procurator-fiscal.

The arrests came on the first morning of Operation Silverback. The campaign will run over the festive period, which is notorious for crime at empty depots and stations.

Areas badly affected in Glasgow include Partick, Hillington, Braehead, Tradeston and Charing Cross.

Police will patrol the lines on Christmas Day, when the passenger network practically shuts down.

The BTP say the vandals are risking their lives and costing the industry millions of pounds a year.

Detective Superintendent Ashley Croft said: "With virtually no trains on Christmas Day, it should be a quiet time for us. Unfortunately, we know these vandals will try to take advantage of the hiatus on the system to commit criminal damage.

"These people are putting themselves in real danger. Even when there are no passenger services, there are still some train movements, and overhead cables remain live at all times.

"Graffiti is often serious organised crime and it has been increasing.

"These vandals are indulging in selfish, anti-social behaviour that is an attack on the environment.

"They are taking a baseball bat to society, with no concern for the consequences."

Graffiti vandals can face prison or a £5000 fine.

In September, two vandals in Middlesex were jailed for a total of three-and-a-half years for railway graffiti offences.

Last year, 31 graffiti attacks were recorded on Christmas Day across the UK, including a handful in Glasgow.