Graffiti is an illegal, anti-social activity. It creates a negative impression of an area and contributes to people's fear of crime. Any graffiti on Council owned property will be removed.
What is graffiti?
- Graffiti is an illegal and anti-social activity. It creates a negative impression of an area and contributes to people's fear of crime.
- Graffiti is the most common type of property vandalism.
- Graffiti is often the first element in a spiral of decline. If graffiti is not removed others will feel free to add to it.
- Its artistic merits are irrelevant. It represents one group of people imposing themselves on everyone else. It is a form of pollution like people playing loud music.
- Graffiti is also a green issue as it is an attack on the environment. The cost of cleaning up graffiti is enormous and is difficult to eradicate completely.
What we do
Any graffiti on council owned property will be removed. To help us combat graffiti and prosecute those responsible, please report it.
- We remove graffiti from public areas including Public Highway Land and Parks.
- We remove racist or obscene graffiti on council owned land within 90 minutes when reported to Dudley Council Plus.
- When graffiti appears on council owned property we will remove it as soon as possible from the time we receive the report.
What we do not do
- We will not remove graffiti from canals, railway bridges and some memorials.
- Removal of graffiti from private property. This is the responsibility of the property owner. We do not offer a removal service, however we can offer advice on remedial action.
Further information
Preventing graffiti
There are a number of tools available to tackle the problem of graffiti. The Government has introduced a ban on the sale of spray paints to under 16's. The aim is to tackle the source of the problem by taking away the means to graffiti.
- Planting shrubs and other vegetation to make vulnerable areas inaccessible.
- Prompt removal.
- Use of materials (for example trellising) and surfaces that make graffiti vandalism difficult.
- Education
- Applying a clear coat finish to protect painted and unpainted surfaces.
- Using protective film coverings on windows.
- Reporting graffiti for removal as soon as it is seen.
- Use of pastel shades for communal areas rather than white, magnolia or traditional colours reduces graffiti attacks.
Graffiti prevention tips for businesses
- Use graffiti resistant materials or coatings.
- Include shrubs, robust plants, and vines to restrict vandals access.
- Add or improve lighting around the building to promote natural surveillance.
- Use fences, controlled entrances and barriers that discourage through traffic.
- Limit access to roofs by moving bins away from walls.
- Cover drainpipes to prevent vandals from scaling them.
- Install security cameras.
- Organise a 'Business Watch' with nearby shopkeepers to keep tabs on a business area.
- Businesses may want to employ security to monitor property.
- Don't allow a 'legal wall' or an area that permits graffiti, at your business. They are ineffective and may draw more graffiti vandals to the area.