Free graffiti removal for private properties

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Residents and business-people whose lives have been made a misery by graffiti vandals, can now take advantage of a trial free graffiti-removal service courtesy of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

The council has introduced the free service in direct response to feedback from local people. Previously the council removed graffiti from public buildings but made a charge for home and business-owners. If residents or local businesses wish to take advantage of the council's trial free removal of graffiti from private properties
they should call the Smarter Borough hotline on 020 8753 1100.

For the next six months the council will remove graffiti on private property at a height of less than 2 metres, as long as the owner has given their consent. As well as removing the graffiti, council enforcement officers will continue to monitor known hotspots, and keep an eye out for any graffiti vandals. Officers have powers to issue on the spot fines of £50 to anyone seen spraying graffiti.

Councillor Michael Cartwright, Cabinet Member for Environment said: "Time and time again when I speak to residents, they tell me what a negative impact graffiti has on the look and feel of their area. The council already makes every effort to remove graffiti from public buildings, and so we felt it made sense to extend this service to include private buildings.

"However, graffiti removal is a very costly operation, and so rather than just relying on removal, we will be using a three-pronged attack on graffiti involving public awareness, enforcement and removal. Studies show that removing graffiti swiftly means there is almost a zero rate of reoccurrence, so we hope our initiative will help to create a graffiti-free Hammersmith & Fulham."

October 16, 2005