The graffiti removal team was on hand to help raise awareness of graffiti removal services, educate young people and highlight the environmental damage and cost of graffiti vandalism in southwest London. The young people who filled out the questionnaire were visiting the Southfields Community College summer fete earlier this month. Most of the survey respondents were aware of what a graffiti tag is and felt that all graffiti was 'horrible'. 26% of those surveyed said they saw graffiti regularly at school compared to 39% in 2006. There has also been a drop in the number of instances of graffiti on council estates according to survey results – 41% said they regularly saw graffiti on the estate or road where they lived compared to 47% last year. Awareness of the graffiti removal service and its aims is also on the up, with 70% of the young people taking part in the survey reporting that they have heard of the service compared to only 55% last year. People's attitudes toward reporting graffiti have also changed with 53% of those taking part in the survey stating that they would report graffiti compared to only 33% in 2006. The number of children who said they would report graffiti to the police has risen a staggering 26% and young people who said they would report graffiti to their parent or guardian has also risen by 13% since last year. The Southfields Community College summer fete took place on Saturday, July 7 and was attended by over 500 people including local councillors, residents, pupils, parents and representatives from local businesses. Visitors to the event were given demonstrations by the council's graffiti removal contractor, Wettons. The team were able to show how easy it is to remove graffiti and how quickly and effectively the council tackles the problem. Wandsworth's graffiti removal service is free to all residents and businesses in the borough. Offensive graffiti, such as racist or abusive, is removed within 24 hours and other forms are removed within three working days. To report graffiti or to find out more about the service call (020) 8871-7049, email graffiti@wandsworth.gov.uk or report it online or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Wandsworth Council's graffiti removal service hosted a special presentation of a new anti-graffiti teaching resource pack on Wednesday, May 16 at the Professional Centre, Tooting.
Delegates took part in a discussion covering areas including problems caused by graffiti vandalism, how to combat the problem and ways of creating constructive diversions for young people through youth initiatives and activities. Participants were also presented with the Wandsworth anti-graffiti teaching resource pack which has been developed for secondary schools working in line with the Citizenship and PSHE curriculum. The event also saw the screening of 'Consequence' - a hard-hitting film featuring drama students at Southfields Community College. The DVD, commissioned and produced by the Dangerous Theatre Company in association with SWAAG (South West Action Against Graffiti), forms part of the teaching resource pack. 'Consequence' features a cast of seven young actors and actresses from the college based in Wandsworth. The 20 minute film, based on a true story written by Paul Wylie, tells the story of a teenager Nathaniel, and how the consequences of his antisocial behaviour leads to the community turning their back on him in his time of need, leading to the death of his grandmother. The film's ultimate message is the devastating consequences of graffiti and how it can have a knock on effect on the lives of people affected by it.
The initiative is organised by Capital Standards, a partnership of 28 local authorities, emergency services and other London agencies, and seeks to recruit half a million Londoners to volunteer to clean up the streets parks and River Thames over a 100 day period ending on June 15. In support if the Capital Clean Up and as part of its routine graffiti removal programme, the Wandsworth graffiti removal service has been targeting graffiti hotspots in subways and underpasses around the borough.
Executive member for Housing, Cllr Martin D Johnson said: "Graffiti is unsightly and cost taxpayers hundreds of thousand of pounds every year to remove. Once again we are supporting the Capital Clean Up initiative which highlights the importance of getting the community to work together to help rid their borough of this menace. Our recent graffiti blitz targeted areas which we have identified as hotspots not only improves the look of our local environment but also detracts crime and anti-social behaviour from these areas". Wandsworth's graffiti removal service is free to all residents and businesses in the borough. Offensive, racist or abusive graffiti is removed within 24 hours and other forms of graffiti are removed within three working days once permission is given from the property owner.
The scheme is popular with both young people and teachers and relies on the professionalism and commitment of the council, other agencies and sponsors to make each event a success. In February 2007, we anticipate 28 schools will take part with more than 1000 young people attending. The presence and support of the Mayor and Cllr Martin D Johnson is expected in week two. Monday 26 February to Friday 9 March 2007 Junior Citizen's scheme (572 kb)
Wandsworth Council alongside ten neighbouring south London local authorities, known as SWAAG, the Police, British Transport Police and Network Rail held various activities throughout the week to combat graffiti. Wandsworth Council also launched several exciting initiatives during the event that included an anti-graffiti DVD. The new DVD entitled 'Consequence', stars students from Southfields Community College drama department and a high profile borough-wide graffiti removal advertising campaign. Wandsworth Graffiti Removal Service high profile advertising campaign will be available on local transport throughout the borough, including local buses, network railway stations and underground platforms. Its aim is to raise awareness of Wandsworth Graffiti Removal Service and that residents and businesses can have graffiti removed within 24 hours for obscene or racist and within three days for other types of graffiti, subject to permission being given by the property owner. Throughout the week, Wandsworth Graffiti Removal Service provided extra borough-wide cleans including the parks, Wandsworth Common and Tooting Bec Common, and both Balham and Tooting town centres also benefited.
Finally, Reward flyers were sent to residents who live in graffiti hotspots and two reward campaign posters were introduced targeting the most prolific taggers in some of the most vandalised estates (Doddington & Rollo and Streatham Park/Faylands/Colson Way). The posters are in partnership with Crimestoppers, which enables callers to remain anonymous. A reward of up to £1,000 is available for those who can give information that leads to a successful prosecution. If you can provide any information please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Callers can give information whilst remaining anonymous and still qualify for the reward scheme. Alternatively, you can contact Wandsworth Graffiti Removal Service on (020) 8871 7049. Doddington & Rollo estates.pdf (590 kb)
Wandsworth Graffiti Removal Service decided to clean the top 6 underpass graffiti hotspots that occur in the borough. Councillor Martin D. Johnson, Cabinet Member for Housing says: "We receive a lot of calls to keep the underpasses and subways free of graffiti. This time is special in the fact that we will be targeting six of the most graffitied areas within the space of a week. We hope that it not only improves the look of our local environment but also detracts further crime and anti-social behaviour from the areas". Areas to be covered will be:
Councillor Martin D. Johnson, Cabinet Member for Housing said: "We are hoping that the information that goes to Crimestoppers will be of a higher quality now people know that their calls or identity cannot be traced. Crimestoppers have a renowned reputation and they have a professional approach to co-ordinate the council's initiative". Wandsworth launched a borough-wide summer campaign, featuring the Crimestoppers contact number. Future campaigns will target specific graffiti hotspots and graffiti tags within the borough. To contact Crimestoppers with information about graffiti crime please call 0800 555 111 |
Graffiti survey results 
Wandsworth Council's anti graffiti message is being heard according to young people who filled in a questionnaire at a recent graffiti removal team roadshow. 
The event was attended by teaching staff from Wandsworth secondary schools as well as representatives from the council including members of the Youth Offending Team and the Metropolitan Police.
Areas targeted in the latest blitz include the underpass at Wandsworth roundabout, Trinity Road subway, Ravenet Street subway, Tibbets Corner underpass, Potters Lane subway and Eardley Road passage walkway. More than 200 square metres of graffiti was removed during the operation, which took place last month.
The Junior Citizen Scheme is in its eighteenth year and helps to educate 8 to 11 year-olds on various topics ranging from graffiti vandalism to fire safety and stranger danger. The scheme runs twice a year, spring and summer for two weeks and consists of scenarios, role play and various interactive activities presented by qualified and experienced individuals from the council and agencies such as the local police and fire service.
