Graffiti

Graffiti describes words or drawings that are painted, written or carved on walls and other surfaces. Graffiti is almost always unattractive, it degrades the environment and can result in an increased fear of crime locally. Applying Graffiti is illegal.

Our Enforcement Officers have the power to issue on-the-spot fixed penalty notices for £80 to anyone caught leaving graffiti. Offenders will be reported to the Police as it is a criminal offence.

How we deal with complaints of graffiti depends on the ownership of the affected land or property

Graffiti on District Council owned property:

• We will remove promptly graffiti from Council land and property.

The Council is not responsible for removing graffiti on property that it does not own. That responsibility lies with the owner of the property in question.

Graffiti on the property of other public bodies and utilities:

• We will pass on complaints of graffiti to the County Council and other public agencies and utilities.
• We will follow up these complaints to make sure that action is taken.

Graffiti on private property:

• We will try to contact the property owner and encourage the prompt removal of the graffiti.
• We will provide information and advice on how to remove graffiti
• We will provide information on commercial graffiti removal services
• We will work with the property owner and other agencies to try to deal with the underlying causes of the graffiti.

To report a problem with graffiti, please contact us:

• Telephone: 01225 776655 (8.30am - 5.30pm Monday - Thursday, 8.30 - 5.00pm Friday)
• E-mail customerservices@westwiltshire.gov.uk

See also:

Best Value Performance Indicators  - (external site, opens in new window)

Encams (Keep Britain Tidy campaign) - (external site, opens in new window)

Department for Environmment, Food & Rural Affairs - (external site, opens in new window)

DirectGov website - information on graffiti (external site, opens in new window)