Did you know that we provide a free graffiti removal service which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? We have a zero tolerance approach towards graffiti and anti-social behaviour and will seek to take action wherever possible against perpetrators.

The graffiti removal service was set up in 1994 to tackle and remove graffiti on private property, in the borough's parks and on the council's housing estates, such as communal areas and walls.

Tagging is the main form of graffiti in Wandsworth, this is the mark by which a graffiti vandal marks out their 'patch'.

In 2007/08, the team raised 4,149 orders to remove, clean and paint over 64,906 square metres of graffiti.

In 2008, our budget is just under £500,000 to remove graffiti in the borough and continue our educational programmes in local schools and the community.

The Graffiti Removal Service successfully retained its Charter Mark status at the latest assessment in January 2008 and has improved upon previous performances, with the number of areas of partial compliances reducing to only 3. The accreditation lasts for 3 years, until 2011, and is reviewed on an annual rolling programme. Find out more about Wandsworth's Charter Marks.

What does the graffiti removal service do?

 Erasing - Our main priority is to keep Wandsworth's streets clean of graffiti. To report graffiti or to ask for graffiti to be removed visit the erasing section.

 Educating - We work within the community to help educate young people about the problems associated with graffiti, including the link between this form of vandalism and anti-social behaviour as well as the cost to local tax payers. Visit the educating section for more information.

  Enforcement - We run a 'Graffiti Reward' campaign, aimed at identifying and taking action against graffiti vandals. The Reward Campaign is produced in association with Crimestoppers and callers who give information that leads to a prosecution could be entitled to a reward of up to £1000.

We also work alongside other neighbouring councils, and agencies such as the police to take enforcement against graffiti vandals through groups such as SWAAG. Visit the enforcement section for more information.

 Crime Stoppers award offer (101 kb)

Our service standards
We aim to remove graffiti within the following target times providing we have the permission of the property owner:

• 24 hours for offensive graffiti (abusive, obscene or racist)
• 3 days for detrimental graffiti (tagging)

In addition, contractors undertake the cleaning of wards and red routes on a regular basis.

What did we remove last year?

• Emergency 24-hour graffiti removal (racist/offensive/abusive): 2,031 sq metres
• Standard 3 day/other graffiti removal (tagging): 62,875 metres
• Total: 64,906 metres

The chart below shows year on year percentage totals for graffiti removal targets.

**We monitor our performance against targets regularly and endeavor to improve service to the local community should dips occur.

Download a copy of the graffiti service leaflet
The leaflet contains information on graffiti in Wandsworth and our service. It also contains advice on what you can do to stop the graffiti vandals.

 Graffiti removal service (588 kb)