Greening not cleaning graffiti walls

“Graffiti” describes many more varied types of mark making
and creative strategies than the words “vandalism”,
“criminal damage” and “anti social behaviour” imply.
Yet many authorities and place managers are forced to
engage with the less varied end of this spectrum in the vast
majority of instances. Significant public funds are spent
internationally cleaning up graffiti via “zero tolerance”
approaches. Whilst cleaning is effective, sometimes the
problem moves or recurs, rather than being permanently
eliminated by painting walls white. What comes first? Is
it the intention to paint or the temptation provided by a
clean wall? There is no clear answer but instead a catand-
mouse scenario emerges with the added difficulty
that both “preventer” and “perpetrator” perceive the
problem in “criminal” terms. One side views the marking
of walls without permission as “vandalism” (and has the
law on their side to make this case whatever is painted).
The other perceives erasing their “art” and blankingout
public spaces without consulting on alternatives,
as “criminal damage” too. Hidden to the public is the
ongoing challenge to sustainability that graffiti brings
for many communities, via the significant fiscal and
environmental costs associated with continually removing
it. Conservative and rather out of date estimates suggest
than London alone spends in excess of £6 million per
year cleaning graffiti(1)

1.London Graffiti Assembly Investigative Committee (2002).

• Organisation