Government Business

Graffiti vandalism is a prevalent feature of the urban landscape. It may be that vandalism is more likely to occur within a city estate than in leafy suburbia but, in actual fact, vandalism can occur anywhere once communal barriers – such as a regard for other persons and the obligations of civility – are lowered by actions that seem to signal that ‘no one cares’. 
 
Untended property becomes fair game for people out for fun or plunder and, if graffiti is not kept in check, then it can easily spread to epidemic proportions. The proliferation of graffiti, even when not obscene, confronts the citizen with the inescapable knowledge that the environment is uncontrolled and even uncontrollable, and that anyone can invade it to do whatever damage and mischief they desire. It is little wonder that in these circumstances the fear of crime spreads to law abiding citizens and the local neighbourhood is perceived as an inhospitable jungle.
 
It is not, of course, inevitable that urban decay will cause serious crime to flourish or that violent attacks on strangers will occur. But if residents perceive that crime, especially violent crime, is on the rise, then they will modify their behaviour accordingly. They will use the streets less often and, when on the streets, make moves to avoid strangers, particularly larger groups, usually crossing the road to avoid encounters. It is also likely that those with the means to do so will look for housing elsewhere, moving to an area which they perceive as safer. 
 
Fear of crime
A particular group who will find it difficult to move away will be the elderly. While surveys suggest that the elderly are less likely to be the victims of crime, this may well be the result of their fear, that they feel victimised and stay at home behind locked doors. 
 
Nor should the economic aspect be overlooked. If people don’t shop locally or aren’t attracted to the city centre because of an ugly, decrepit, graffiti-ridden environment, then clearly business will suffer as people migrate to more appealing venues.

The role of the police
Police citizen relationships are clearly important as well as how neighbourhoods are policed, for instance, car based patrols compared with foot patrols. With the former, police may be seen as less approachable and not part of the local neighbourhood, simply there as swooping down for criminal arrest. On the other hand, regular foot patrols are likely to produce an entirely different perception to the local citizen, that there is someone locally available to maintain order and not in a distant police station. 
 
This is surely the community policing approach that the local beat officer is part of and doing his best for the local community. Local knowledge becomes invaluable as to who may be a ‘suspicious person’ and who may have criminal intent, generally improving police effectiveness as a result of developing successful relationships within the community.

A partnership approach
Sometimes graffiti in public places has been seen as a victimless crime that ‘harms no one’ whereas the opposite is the case. Graffiti is a crime against the community at large and to deal with the graffiti menace, a partnership approach is required involving all sectors, police, community organisations and local government. This partnership approach is an aspect that needs to be fostered if success is to be achieved.
 
The Anti-Graffiti Association came into being approximately eight years ago when a positive effort was made to bring together interested parties concerned with the spread of graffiti vandalism. Since its inception, the Association has been well supported by local government, including London boroughs and city councils from Belfast to Brighton, by transport organisations such as London Underground, by organisations such as Historic Scotland and English Heritage, and by leading manufacturers and contractors. We are, of course, continually seeking to increase our membership and hope to attract more members from all sectors, whether local government or the transport industry.
 
The AGA is not a trade association or, indeed, a political pressure group. The aim of the Anti-Graffiti Association is to promote best practice in the management of graffiti, vandalism and related crime, through a combined approach of research, education and communication. 

Debating the issue
Recently, the Anti-Graffiti Association held its National Conference in Nottingham where the Lord Mayor of the City gave her strong support. This was a very successful event with 120 delegates representing all sectors, including local government and the transport industry. The conference was well supported by leading manufacturers with a dozen trade stands fully occupied. This event gives industry the opportunity to show their technical expertise and for new products to be launched into the marketplace.
 
The conference featured an interesting variety of presentations, which included law, training, health and safety and some worthwhile case studies. The chief executive of NCFE, a leading provider of nationally recognised qualifications, gave a forceful presentation as he emphasised the need to raise the skills of industry and the concern he had for contractor training, dealing with such issues as site practices and health and safety requirements in the use of graffiti removal chemicals. As with all industry, there is a need to adapt to new technology and methods. Training leads to increased job satisfaction, morale and motivation by the workforce but from a management point of view it can lead to greater efficiency and a resulting financial gain. The benefits of training are generally irrefutable. 

Restorative justice
As well as technical issues, social and community issues were also addressed. A representative of the Association of Panel Members gave a passionate presentation on restorative justice. The principle of restorative justice is that young offenders and also their victims need to be re-integrated back into the community. 
 
An interesting case study was given to the conference. The village of Rainford in Lancashire was extensively attacked by graffiti. This attack included private housing, the church hall and business premises, causing distress and financial loss to all those involved. Four youths were charged and found guilty of 13 offences of criminal damage. 
 
The offenders, together with the victims, were brought together at a Restorative Conference. This event was not confrontational but it certainly caused embarrassment for the fathers of the young offenders. The youths were posed with the question “How are you going to help the victims?” The result was that the youths took part in restorative work in view of the whole village and it was this work which effectively re-integrated them into the village community.

Improving environments
The Anti-Graffiti Association is a supporter of community projects whereby those in the community can work together to improve their environment. For example, ‘Britain in Bloom’, as one of the largest horticultural campaigns in Europe with the year round aim of creating a more beautiful Britain, should be encouraged. 
 
Community gardening is a positive way for people to improve their environment, become more active with a healthier lifestyle and, at the same time, to get to know their neighbours. In 2008 Nottingham had great success in this competition and obtained the ‘Champion of Champions’ award. Sheffield, as another Association member, also enjoyed success and obtained the Gold Award in the large city category. Such awards reflect the high measure of civic pride felt in both cities.
 
In the 1990s Sheffield suffered greatly from graffiti vandalism but then Sheffield City Council took a proactive approach and, subsequently, the amount of vandalism significantly declined. Not only does the City Council rapidly remove graffiti from its own property but it also operates the ‘Sheffield Graffiti Charter’, a voluntary initiative which encourages the owners of private commercial buildings to sign a pledge to keep their properties graffiti free. Among other benefits, the property owners receive removal at a reduced cost and can obtain certain anti-graffiti coatings at a lower price.

Anti-graffiti policies
The AGA wishes to encourage towns and cities throughout the UK in developing anti-graffiti policies and strategies, to manage and, eventually, to eliminate graffiti. This may be achievable if all who have an interest in graffiti removal, local government, industry, the police and communities themselves, can work together in partnership to overcome this urban blight. The AGA intends to be instrumental in this process by developing ‘best practice’ and in promoting a coherent and well thought out approach to graffiti management and removal.