Nevermind the Pollocks
December 1st 2006

Graffiti may be a form of 'art' but if executed on private property without permission, it's vandalism that costs local councils £27million a year.To combat the problem,Keep Britain Tidy has training courses looking at prevention and removal

It's becoming one of those age old questions "Is graffiti art?" But as far as Keep Britain Tidy, the charity which fights for better local environments, is concerned … Who cares? While the debate rages on among the 'artistically aware', Keep Britain Tidy thinks there are bigger fish to fry (or pictures to paint, if you like) as it broaches the important question about graffiti:What can be done to right this blight? Graffiti may be art to some and not to others, but one thing's for sure, if executed on someone else's property without permission, whether belonging to an individual, council or business, it is vandalism.

But it is not just the annoyance to those who own the victim buildings that is the problem. It's the upset it creates for the whole community. Past research has shown people are more concerned about graffiti and vandalism in their area than they are about 'more serious issues' like drug dealing. That's why 96% of councils regularly deal with complaints about graffiti.

Not only is the increased fear of crime a problem created by graffiti, so is the cost to clean it up. The annual bill currently weighs in at £27 million a year to remove urban scrawl, with the average spend per local authority being over £75,000 a year.

A 2004 Keep Britain Tidy survey revealed that 89% of councils have a problem with graffiti. Hotspot areas were identified as train stations and subways. And more recently, the largest survey the charity does uncovered the most common type of graffiti to be juvenile: phrases like 'I woz ere' are well documented on public toilet doors and bus shelters.

Plus findings also show tagging – individuals develop a signature style and tattoo this across towns and cities – accounts for over a third of all daubs.

Just under half of councils have a dedicated hotline for the public to report street scribbles. Misinformation and inexperience in dealing with graffiti means some of the more offensive and contentious scrawl is left on for days. This coupled with the fact that only around half of councils have a team or member of staff whose sole purpose is to rid buildings of such vandalism, only adds to the issue.

To get a grasp on graffiti, Keep Britain Tidy wants to see as much as education, campaigning and enforcement as possible. Its training course 'Developing Anti-Graffiti Measures and Strategies', helps to inform just that. Those attending are given comprehensive guidance on how to curb community calligraphy with insight into prevention techniques (like anti-graffiti paint) and the latest legislation. But even with this action graffiti, like litter, to some extent will still occur so authorities need to be given the skills and know how to scrub it effectively, after all 6% of scrawl is actually the remnants of tags and the like that have not been cleaned properly.

That's why there are also courses for councils and organisations; giving those who have the tough job of executing a fair share of elbow grease the know how to remove it safely and effectively.

Training is available from two aspects. For those who clean it professionally i.e. part of a dedicated graffiti removal team there is the one day session 'Graffiti removal by pressure washer'. It teaches delegates to recognise the difference types of material vandalised and the appropriate way to deal with it. If dealing with scrawl of a smaller scale like that in a role of Caretaker,Warden or as a community group then 'Graffiti removal by hand', a three hour course, is more suitable.

Both courses address health and safety implications, provide opportunities for delegates to practice what has been preached with environmentally friendly removal products and techniques.

Visit the Training section of Keep Britain Tidy website for details on course dates or email training@encams.org. Further information on graffiti including background research and case studies can be found in a Knowledge Bank also available from www.keepbritaintidy.org.

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