Criminal Damage
Case Study: Graffiti Project
Lead agency: Metropolitan Police Havering OCU
Partners: St Andrews Safer Neighbourhood Team, Transport for London, Youth Offending Team, schools officers, local authority, Street Care, local community, MacDonald's Restaurant, The Beard Youth Centre, Gaynes Hall Mead, Secondary Schools, Blue Triangle Buses, British Transport Police, local councillors, the Member of Parliament and the Romford Recorder.
Location: Hornchurch High Street
Dates: September 2004 onwards
Summary: A survey and environmental audit of Hornchurch High Street found that graffiti increased a fear of crime. The partnership implemented short, medium and long term interventions which brought 121 offences to justice. An unforeseen benefit was that those charged for making graffiti were found to have been involved in burglary and the St Andrews Ward team reduced residential burglary by 35% over the period of the operation.
The problem:
- A survey of residents and businesses in St Andrews Ward revealed that the level of graffiti in the area had raised the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour. This did not match the police perspective which saw the area as one of low robbery and comparatively low levels of reported crime and criminal damage.
- The St Andrews Safer Neighbourhoods Team and the local authority carried out an environmental audit of Hornchurch High street. Members of the public visited 20 locations in the High Street on a Friday night and were asked to comment on how safe they felt and what environmental features created the feeling of safety or otherwise. Graffiti was mentioned repeatedly as a factor that led participants to feel vulnerable. Where people saw graffiti they assumed there would be high levels of burglary and robbery, along with gang activity and violence. Back to top
Action taken:
- The partners sought to understand the graffiti subculture and located the most attractive sites for graffiti ‘tagging'. The project identified three walls to be painted white with the objective of them staying clean for more than a month. In addition, partners aimed to send out a clear message that graffiti was a crime and would not be tolerated. The project aimed to bring to justice 50 offences within 12 months.
In the short term:
- Walls painted white were monitored and tags recorded and compared against other marks on the street.
- Posters were displayed in prominent areas, warning of the consequences of being involved in graffiti.
- When arrests were made this was publicised on posters, naming their tag and inviting anyone who had been a victim of this mark to come forward. The posters also listed three other tag names with an appeal for information.
- A reward was offered in the local press for information leading to the arrest of the most prolific tagger.
- Police patrols in the worst affected areas were increased. Inspecting young people's hands for pigment enabled the identification of those who had been involved in graffiti.
- The Police Team created a video presentation to be given to youth groups to reinforce the fact that graffiti was a high local priority and offenders would be caught and prosecuted.
- The local bus company were regularly contacted to find images of offenders on their CCTV.
- An outreach worker presented educational material to schools.
- The local press ran a series of articles about police success and the consequences of graffiti.
In the medium term:
- PCSOs recorded evidence of graffiti and matched it with that of Havering Street Care and local housing estate caretakers. When the person was caught making a graffiti mark they could then be brought to account for all offences. Standard conditions for Anti Social Behaviour Contracts were: not to be in possession of an item in a public place that could be used for graffiti or etching glass, not to be present when anyone creates graffiti or commits criminal damage and not to create graffiti.
- Information and expertise shared between partners.
- Clean up work by local business and schools .
- Identifying emerging groups through graffiti marks and talking to local young people and youth groups to explain the consequences of being caught making a graffiti mark.
In the long term:
- CCTV to be installed in the High Street.
- A town centre association, Safe and Sound, created and will maintain the graffiti project.
- Partners involved in the project are now involved in the Hornchurch Urban Strategy which will redesign elements of the town centre to design out crime. Back to top
What happened as a result:
- All three painted walls remained clear for over a month, one wall remained clear for six months.
- Offenders were held accountable for 121 offences, this was made up of hundreds of tags.
- Everyone charged with graffiti was discovered to have been involved in burglary. The St Andrews Ward team reduced residential burglary by 35% over the period of the operation without carrying out any other activity in the area. Neighbouring wards also showed an decrease, but other wards in Havering showed an increase. Back to top
What made it work?
- Short term measures combined with a medium and long term strategy meant that early results could be seen and long term sustainability ensured.
Last update: Wednesday, June 27, 2007
