Graffiti
Graffiti is vandalism – pure and simple and its real impacts on
a community are considerable. Graffiti across London cost £100
million to remove in 2002. The current cost of removal to Tower
Hamlets is upwards of £400,000 per year.
Graffiti can reduce property values and depress economic
development. It may even be used to disguise directions to the
locations of drug sellers. Graffiti is a blight on our community
and can lead to the “run down” feel to an area and to an increased
fear of crime.
Graffiti vandals commit criminal damage on all sorts of surfaces
and at many locations. Graffiti vandalism is done by marker pen,
aerosol paint, mechanical or acid etching. Sales of aerosol paints
to under 16s are illegal. Graffiti vandals can be and will be
prosecuted wherever possible.
Unfortunately, graffiti vandalism sometimes contains offensive
and racist messages. These need to be dealt with quickly and where
possible the perpetrators prosecuted by the police.
Tower Hamlets council aims to remove all graffiti on council
buildings and structures within 10 working days but in reality it
is usually within five days. If the graffiti is obscene or racist,
it will be removed from council property or estates within 24
hours.
The council may remove graffiti from private property but
requires a signed disclaimer before it can do so.
Graffiti penalties
Graffiti vandals can expect to receive a fixed penalty notice
for £80 for minor offences. However, perpetrators of racist
graffiti are prosecuted by the police and will receive sentences of
a fine of up to £5000 or six months imprisonment or both if
convicted in the Magistrates Court. If a vandal is convicted in the
Crown Court, this anti-social behaviour will attract a sentence of
up to 14 years imprisonment or a fine or both.
How do I report graffiti?
On public buildings or highways and street furniture
You may report graffiti on public buildings, highways and street
furniture:
On a Tower Hamlets housing estate
If the graffiti is on a Tower Hamlets Homes managed housing
estate contact your your
local housing office.
You can also call our rapid response graffiti team on:
Tel: 020 7364 1428/1427
Fax:020 7364 1424
Or you can use
the online reporting form.
On managed private property or private roads
Removal of graffiti on private property is the responsibility of
the owner(s). Many have their own graffiti removal teams in place.
So in the first instance, contact your housing office or
premises to organise graffiti removal.
On other private property
Tower Hamlets council recognises that individual
owners/occupiers of private dwellings do not have access to a
graffiti removal facility. So if the graffiti is not too large and
is accessible from the road or a car park, Tower Hamlets council
may arrange for its removal free of charge, subject to a disclaimer
being signed by the owner of the property.
To see if you are eligible please contact
Tower Hamlets online graffiti removal, ask the customer contact
centre on 020 7364 5004, or email generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
What happens next
Once reported we can send an officer out to inspect the graffiti
and depending on the content and location, can arrange its
removal.
Further information
For further information on graffiti visit the Defra
website, or contact the Tower Hamlets customer contact centre
on 020 7364 5004 or email generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
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