The writing's off the wall
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
08/04/2008
A whopping 4,900 graffiti tags have been removed from properties, walls and shutters across Hammersmith and Fulham.
Since April last year, the council’s graffiti action team has been working hard to clear unsightly areas across the borough by painting, jet washing and sand blasting graffiti – a jet wash method that sprays granules of sand to corrode the paint.
The team provide a free service to local residents, removing daubings that are visible from the public highway and within reach of roads. Staff aim to clean racist graffiti within 24 hours and other graffiti, below two metres in height, within five working days of it being reported.
Graffiti is a criminal offence and the council is working hard to tackle it, not only by removing it quickly, but also by identifying and taking action against the people responsible.
Cabinet Member for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour, Councillor Greg Smith, said: “This is a massive achievement for the graffiti action team and shows the council’s commitment to eliminating enviro-crime in the borough. We simply will not tolerate graffiti blighting our town centres and are working hard to provide a cleaner.”
Susan Douglas, a resident from Fulham, is very happy with the service. She said: "In the past year there has been a transformation in the council's graffiti removal service – it is now an outstanding service and the borough has never looked cleaner. Indeed I notice the difference in standards here as soon as I cross the borough's boundaries.
“I am very grateful to those who have been instrumental in bringing about these improvements and to the people on the front line for all their hard work. It really is a brilliant service.”
To report graffiti in the borough or to report a suspected graffiti vandal, call the council’s hotline on 020 8753 1100.
