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Graffiti and Disorder: Local Government, Law Enforcement and Community

It is estimated that graffiti removal costs in Australia are $300 million a year, along with the United States who spend $7 billion annually. This report identifies differing responses from Local Government, Law enforcement, and the community involving graffiti. The implications and motives of graffiti are also signified.

Title: Graffiti and Disorder: Local Government, Law Enforcement and Community Responses
Authors: Australian Institute of Criminology
Number of pages: 11
Date published: August 2003

It is commonplace that different people respond to graffiti in different ways. One cost is the general sense of apprehension about crime it creates in the society. Graffiti creates a run-down atmosphere that can lead to more crime being committed. Graffiti is of great significance to local communities, local government, police, public transport agencies, and young people. There are two ways of viewing graffiti, from a crime prevention perspective, and from a youth culture perspective.

Crime Prevention Perspective

Interventions to prevent crime opportunity whilst increasing the risk and difficulty of offending are classified as situational crime prevention.

The three principal tenets of reducing offending are:

• Increasing the effort
  This process involves hardening the targets. One way would be to utilise the design skills of neighbourhoods, so undetected graffiti would be harder to commit. Regulation of selling spray paint could also increase graffiti writing effort. In South Australia, it is an offence to sell paint to a minor or indeed sell it without using physical retailer assistance. This is where products are stored away from customer reach, and in more suitable positions eg. behind the counter, glass cabinets etc.

• Increasing the risk
  The likelihood of detecting offenders can be increased through installing lighting, video or camera surveillance as most offenders work at night so they cannot be seen. Encouraging community surveillance is another technique that may be employed, using programmes such as Neighbourhood Watch or Crimestoppers.

• Reducing the rewards
  Prompt identification and instant graffiti removal make it less appealing to commit the offence. The approach requires constant monitoring and rapid removal of graffiti in the area.

The Role of Law Enforcement

It is generally recognised that to achieve reduction in graffiti needs strategies with a broader focus than policing and punishment alone. To decrease graffiti incidence:

• Police alone cannot control crime and disorder

• No single agency alone can control crime and disorder

• Partnerships of crime reduction agencies must exist.

Evidence based problem solving approaches are most effective approach to controlling crime and disorder. Crime and disorder problems are complex, and need to be understood within local context, resulting in a local strategy reflective of requirements.

Graffiti as a Youth Culture

To understand the complex nature of graffiti, it is necessary to understand the youth culture that initially promoted and continues to popularise its practice. The reason for popularity found in hot spots such as underground subways is high visibility, a huge potential audience, and linking of other like-minded people in large areas ie. cities. Subways also reflect direction and movement, and the harshness of inner-city life. Throughout the 1970's and 80's it can be said the media promoted and popularised the graffiti culture using magazines, books and films.

Graffiti is found upon walls, public transport, phone booths etc. and is more likely performed within urban cities than rural towns. Those belonging to the graffiti culture impose bans upon churches, tombstones, houses, and cars upon themselves. The three main reasons graffiti writers carry out these actions are to:

• achieve fame

• command respect

• there is nothing else to do.

Encouraging and facilitating legal graffiti

There are now specially designated places for graffiti writers to use, which hopefully prevents illegal activity. There are websites available that are produced in good faith intended for legitimate graffiti artists.

The Role of Local Government and the Community

There is no universal response concerning graffiti removal, as local governments have individual differing problems, strategies and solutions. Rapid removal, criminal sanctions, social benefit approaches, and acceptance of graffiti culture are just some of the strategic methods available to local governments.

Conclusion

Youth culture must be taken into account to improve illegal graffiti prevention. This multi-faceted practice demands a multi-faceted response collaborated through Local / State Government and the community. Crime and safety issues are complex and involve local factors of employment, education, health, welfare, and economical policies. With a better idea of strategies to control graffiti writing, a more cost effective and evidence driven response will be provided.

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Last update: Tuesday, August 26, 2008