Graffiti in London: Street Art or Street Crime?

GRAFFITI in London STREET ART STREET OR CRIME? Is Graffiti a Problem? Graffiti has become of increasing concern to Londoners, with local authorities, transport organisations, businesses and private individuals spending millions of pounds each year trying to prevent and remove it. Graffiti has a negative effect on the lives of the thousands of Londoners who travel in vandalised, unpleasant buses and trains, and live in areas blighted by graffiti. Its presence often coincides with other environmental problems such as abandoned cars, litter and fly posting. Graffiti also spreads fear and can be offensive. The increasing importance attached to graffiti removal is evidenced by the increase in the demand for Councils to remove it. The cost of Graffiti in London Each Year €7 million Most affected areas? Wandsworth = £625,000 Lewisham = £390,000 Croydon = £250,000 Lambeth = £600,000 Camden = £350,000 Southwark = £241,000 Transport companies annual expenditure Arriva (£450,000) Go Ahead Buses (£364,000) London London United Busways (£615,000) Underground (£2,500,000) Metroline (£200,000) Stagecoach (£750,000) Adshel (£250,000) Transport for London (£1,000,000 Overall Cost = £6,129,00O How is London Underground affected? £10 million €38 million is how much it costs the London Underground on average each year, for the whole process. is how much it would cost to replace all of the graffiti-etched windows on every tube train. 70,000 is how much time London Underground vetoes each year just to clean up graffiti Dealing with graffiti also diverts valuable police and staff resources. Hundreds of thousands of staff hours are taken up in cleaning, repairs and police time. Infographic by Graffiti Removal | Environmental Jetting | Tankering Services Hydro www.hydro-cleansing.com E/eansing Sources: http://legacy.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/environment/graffiti.pdf http://www.btp.police.uk/advice_and_info/how_we_tackle_crime/graffiti.aspx