Graffiti

The Service Bexley Council Provides

The increase in the Graffiti in the Borough over the last few years has caused concern among the residents and traders alike. The Council has had a policy in place for removing graffiti from the highway and council property but, because of the dramatic increase in the amount of graffiti on private property the removal service has been able to include all property throughout the Borough providing it is visible from the public highway or public open space.

Unless the graffiti is offensive or racist, removal will be carried out on a programmed basis (normally within 7 working days).

If racist or offensive graffiti is reported, all attempts will be made to remove it within 24 hours.

Where graffiti is on a painted surface, the service will only allow for painting over the area of graffiti and an exact paint match cannot be guaranteed because of fading of original colours and the many paint colours available.

Help us identify who is carrying out graffiti - if you have information you can call our Neighbourhood Services Team in Confidence on 0800 389 5013

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What else are we doing to combat graffiti?

Using the Council's contractor to remove graffiti is only one of the options being used to tackle the problem. The following initiatives are in various stages of implementation:

Partnering with other local authorities to combat graffiti across borough boundaries, and to share information on best practice.
We continue to work in partnership with the Probation Service and the Youth Offending Team, who both use young offenders to remove graffiti and flyposting from locations identified by the Council.
Trading Standards ensure that shops are not selling spray cans to under sixteens as this is now an offence and are working with shop owners to minimise the risk of implements that can be used for graffiti or etching being aquired for these purposes.
Continue to sell graffiti removal kits and encourage residents/traders to remove graffiti from their area. This strategy has proved to be successful in several areas around the Borough. In particular, close cooperation will be maintained and improved with Neighbourhood Watch coordinators and residents/traders associations; The Council will provide free graffiti removal kits to any recognised group in order to keep local areas clean of graffiti.
Increased surveillance is being carried out to catch offenders and the police stop and search those suspected of carrying materials for the purpose of graffiti. Intelligence on tags is being shared between key partners to identify those responsible.
An educational programme aimed at school children at all key learning stages is to be developed and made available to all schools and youth services.
Trials in the designing out of graffiti and flyposting have been carried out in areas where large expanses of wall/fence attract vandals. This involved the use of protective coatings, anti-climb paint, anti-fly posting coatings, planting of natural screening i.e. thorn bushes or fast growing large shrubs.

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How you can help us to help you?

If graffiti appears on your property:
- report it to the police,
- take photographs as evidence,
- if possible, remove it as quickly as you can,
- if you are unable to remove it yourself, contact Highways and Amenities at worksdirect@bexley.gov.uk who will be able to advise on the most appropriate course of action.
Graffiti removal kits are available for purchase at a cost of £70 for a large kit and £25 for a small first aid kit. For further details contact 020 8303 7777 (Option 1) or e-mail worksdirect@bexley.gov.uk
If you are a member of a residents or traders association, or Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, your co-ordinator may be able to obtain a free kit!
If you are not a member of any of the above groups or there is not one in your area, why not start one yourself? Bexley Neighbourhood Watch can be contacted on 020 8284 9266 or, by writing to 2 Arnsberg Way, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 4QS.
Why not get together with your neighbours and have a clean up weekend. It is a good opportunity to get the children involved and show them the damage that is caused to a community, by graffiti. We can help you with some resources, just contact us at worksdirect@bexley.gov.uk and tell us what you need.
Always know where your children are and what they are doing. Aerosols are dangerous, and it may be your child that is causing damage and distress to others.

How can graffiti be removed?

The graffiti removal kits supplied by Bexley Council will remove graffiti from most surfaces but there are cheaper alternatives that are worth trying. The following methods of removal are fairly simple and economic:

Graffiti on	Try this
Painted surface	Lightly abrade surface, clean off residue and over-paint graffiti. This may require 2/3 coats of paint depending on the background colour and the darkness of the graffiti. DO NOT use paint remover, thinners, white spirit or methylated spirit, as this will attack the base paint.
Timber fencing	Sand down surface with coarse sand paper and re-stain.
Glass	White spirit or methylated spirit should remove most paints and marker pen ink. Carefully read the manufacturers instructions for use and safety information before use. DO NOT use abrasive materials or cleaners
Plain metal	As for glass, plus some paint removing products may be suitable. Carefully read the manufacturers instructions for use and safety information before use.
Plastic	As for glass. Please note that some solvents may have an adverse effect on some plastics. Carefully read the manufacturers instructions for use and safety information before use.

How do I request graffiti removal?

removing graffiti The service is only available within the Bexley Council borough boundary.

To request graffiti removal, please complete the Graffiti Removal Request Form providing details of the location of the graffiti. This information will then be passed to the graffiti removal teams who will undertake removal, normally within 7 working days. Where graffiti is found to be of an abusive, obscene or racist nature, the teams will remove it within 24 hours, following notification to the police.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The graffiti removal process normally involves high pressure jetting of brickwork and timber or painting over the graffiti on existing painted surfaces. High pressure jetting can cause discolouration to brickwork and timber and it is not always possible to exactly match paint colours.

The Council accepts no liability for damage caused by the removal process.