Graffiti
Policy on graffiti
Introduction
Graffiti can be defined as unwanted words or drawings that are scribbled or painted on walls and other surfaces. Common types of graffiti include tags (signature like territory markers), written political statements, artistic murals and pure damage (often through obliteration).
It is accepted that graffiti is one of the more emotive issues present in the modern street scene. Its presence is often seen as an indicator of urban decay, with many presenting it as evidence of an increase in juvenile crime. The presence of graffiti makes people feel less safe in their community.
Graffiti might best be classified somewhere between wilful littering and vandalism, but it is not a new problem nor one that cannot be controlled.
Commitment
Harrogate Borough Council are committed to removing graffiti from any area where it can be overlooked by persons in any public open space, within 14 days of receiving a report.
Harrogate Borough Council will also work to influence private property owners to remove graffiti promptly. Any instance of graffiti will be brought to the property owner's attention with advice and solutions offered to speed its removal.
Where possible Harrogate Borough Council will seek to reduce graffiti through design and/or planning and in certain existing locations it will seek to implement preventative measures.
Point of Contact
As a Street Scene issue that will often require the attention of the Street Cleansing service the Highway Amenity Section will be the publicised point of contact.
The graffiti hotline number 01423 556649 will be identified through the normal directories and other media, and every appointment will be taken to promote it through the press and radio.
Dealing with Graffitti - reactive cleaning
Council owned property and the highway
The Street Cleansing teams will attend incidents of graffiti to remove it using mechanical means first and if necessary chemical means. The costs of these works will be recharged to the highway agent, building management or other as appropriate.
Residential property
Highway Amenity staff will contact the property owner with a view to the property owner removing or obliterating the graffiti as soon as possible and also to encourage preventative action to be taken.
Staff will offer the services of Street Cleansing to attempt to clean graffiti off these premises at the appropriate private rate charge minus 50%, subject to the owner signing a waiver indemnifying the service against unavoidable changes to underlying substrates.
Commercial property
Highway Amenity staff will contact the property owner with a view to the property owner removing or obliterating the graffiti as soon as possible and also to encourage preventative action to be taken.
Staff will offer the services of Street Cleansing to attempt to clean graffiti off these premises at the appropriate private rate charge, subject to the owner signing a waiver indemnifying the service against unavoidable changes to underlying substrates.
Absent owner (orphan) property
Examples of such property might include structures where the owner cannot be easily traced within a short timescale e.g. items of street furniture such as telecommunication cabinets, or derelict sites.
Highway Amenity staff will attempt to contact the property owner with a view to removing or obliterating the graffiti as soon as possible and also to encourage preventative action to be taken.
Where this is not achievable, and where the graffiti is clearly visible and safely accessible the Street Cleansing Service will access and attempt to clean off the graffiti.
Some discretion to be used in deciding whether to recharge the costs of such exercises based on the likelihood of obtaining payment.
Dealing with Graffitti - preventative measures
Planning and design
Staff involved in the planning process will seek advice from the Police Architectural Liaison Officer and the Community Safety Partnership Crime Reduction Officer when considering submissions that may be vulnerable to graffiti.
Where ever possible measures will be stipulated to deter graffiti, including the use of deterrent surfaces or resistant surfaces.
Building management
Where practicable, preventative measures will be taken to treat proven target areas and other vulnerable areas of council owned properties with anti graffiti coatings to reduce the adherence of graffiti and speed up its removal when it does occur.
Advice to property owners
When dealing with property owners Highway Amenity staff will advocate the application of anti graffiti coatings to reduce the adherence of graffiti and speed up its removal. when it does occur.
Follow-up Action
Highway Amenity staff will photograph instances of graffiti, record the place and time of occurrence and any eye witness details and pass them to the Police and Community Safety Partnership for their attention.
Records will be maintained to highlight reoccurring problems.
A register of areas treated with anti-graffiti coatings will be maintained to ensure the correct cleaning methods are applied.