Make a complaint about graffiti

Graffiti is criminal damage that spoils the local environment and encourages other forms of anti social behaviour.

Damage can be costly to remove from private properties and the council's assets.

Let us know about graffiti.  Contact the Customer Contact Centre.  If it is public property e.g street furniture, we aim to remove graffiti to the following deadlines: 

• Offensive - 24 hours
• Non Offensive - 4 working days (2008 target)

Getting graffiti removed

We offer a graffiti removal service for which there is a charge. For a free quotation or advice tel: (01904) 625751.

Anti Graffiti Kits

If you are the victim of graffiti damage, the street environment and enforcement teams have anti graffiti kits for loan.  We can visit, advise and loan the kit to help you remove the damage.

We also have 30 volunteers in the community who help local residents and businesses by loaning and training in the use of the kits.  Some volunteers also give up their time to actively remove graffiti themselves in their neighbourhood.

If you are interested in becoming a graffiti kit holder please contact your street environment officer via the Customer Contact Centre (01904) 551551.

What are we doing to combat graffiti?

Protocol

We have drawn up a protocol with North Yorkshire Police explaining the work we will do together to tackle this problem through:

• prevention and 'target hardening'
• detection of crime
• removal
• education and campaigning
• engagement of local residents, community groups and businesses

A copy of this protocol will be available on line from October 2008.

Website

We are building a dedicated website with the police to help gather information on tags common to York to bring about improved surveillance and intelligence and ultimately legal action against those responsible.

The website will go live in Summer 2008.

Dedicated Removal

A dedicated two person team is currently being developed to provide a more rapid response to graffiti removal across the city.  The work or the team will bring about better intelligence, quicker removal and a cleaner city for all who live, work and visit.

The team will be launched in Summer 2008.

Target Hardening

Street environment officers carry out regular ward audits and walkabouts, identifying and reporting graffiti damage.  We give advice and support to any private property owners affected by graffiti including ways to prevent further damage such as:

• removing the target
• removing access
• obstructing access e.g. shrubs, fencing
• making removal easier - using anti graffiti paint
• reporting the crime to the police

Education

The street Environment officers will be carrying out school visits to educate and engage school pupils in why graffiti is wrong and bring about a 'name and shame' campaign against taggers.

Utility Companies

We have set up a partnership agreement with Virgin Media (formerly NTL) to ensure prompt removal from their cabinets in York.

There are 1600 cabinets in the city , the partnership has included:

• free continuous supply of paint from Virgin Media
• financial and cleaning of cabinets by Neighbourhood Services
• promotion of 'Adopt A Box' scheme
  

Adopt a Box

If you live near a Virgin Media box that is a target for graffiti damage, you can help combat the problem with us by painting your local box.

Helping us to respond quicker to graffiti will mean deterring those responsible and bring about greater community support and empowerment.

Your street environment officer will support you including regular networking events where you can meet other volunteers.  To learn more contact your street environment officer via the York Customer Centre.