Graffiti Reporting and Prevention

Graffiti is an act of vandalism that costs thousands of dollars to remove or cover every year.

Graffiti vandalism or tagging is a community problem which can lower property values. It suggests that the neighbourhood doesn't care or isn't able to cope with the problem.

If graffiti is left it creates an environment where other vandalism and more serious crimes such as burglary and assault may occur.

Reporting

Hastings District Council has a dedicated Environment Enhancement team who have taken responsibility for the removal of graffiti from anything and anywhere within the Hastings District, particularly if it is in public view.

They photograph all graffiti that they come across and that is reported, which is then entered into a database to help police with the tracking, apprehension and prosecution of graffiti vandals.

If you have graffiti on your property please contact us so that we can photograph it before you remove it.

Report graffiti online  or call 0800 NO GRAFFITI (0800 664 723).

Prevention

There are some steps you can take to discourage taggers from targeting your property. Some of the techniques we've found to be effective:

• Using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) methods.
• Landscaping with a row of thorny shrubs along a wall will restrict access to the wall and reduce the surface area of the wall.
• Paint your fences and walls standard colours as unpainted surfaces act like magnets to taggers.
• Darker paint colours have shown to be effective in preventing graffiti.
• Increase lighting around your property. Install motion sensor lighting where possible.
• Install video surveillance cameras, as the possibility of being caught on film is a good deterrent.
• Do an informal audit of your home or business.
• Could anyone jump onto your rubbish bin and then onto the roof?
• Is there a wall that doesn't face the street and is badly lit?
• Are there bins, buildings or bushes which might hide a tagger while they graffiti?
• Does your business have sign writing on the wall that is in danger of being tagged?
• Have your graffiti clean up kit on hand so that any graffiti can be removed promptly before attracting more graffiti or other vandalism.
• Investigate other deterrents such as Resene Sentinel Paint or Stormwalls.

Contact us

Please call 0800 NO GRAFFITI (0800 664 723) to report tagging or individuals known to be responsible for graffiti vandalism.