You can request us to remove graffiti from the following surfaces using the following online for -
- council buildings
- parks and open spaces
- street furniture for example -
- street lights
- bollards
- beacons
- signs
- monuments
- benches
- street litter bins
- private residential property (a fee is applicable and a disclaimer must be signed prior to removal)
- public highway (this includes footpaths)
If you have requested graffiti to be removed we will contact and update you of the actions taken and we will prioritise the removal of offensive graffiti if reported.
Graffiti is a crime.
Graffiti can take the form of -
- words
- scribbles
- patterns or images and can be written
- painted
- sprayed or scratched on the surface of any property.
If placed on the surfaces of any property without consent of its owner and this causes it to be damaged or destroyed, this may be classed as criminal damage.
If graffiti causes damage of this nature it is not only a criminal offence, but it can also cause concern to the community where this is taking place, contribute to higher perceptions of anti-social behaviour, crime and place cost implications on the owner of the private property to remove.
How to report someone responsible for graffiti
You can report someone if you have witnessed placing graffiti on any property using our online form below -
Once you have reported someone responsible for graffiti, we will respond and update you on the progress taken.
We investigate any complaints of graffiti and take enforcement action, so long as there is enough evidence to prove an offence has taken place, and identify and locate the person responsible.
Graffiti on private property
We do not remove graffiti from private property listed below and if present on these surfaces you should report this to their owners -
- private business property
- port authority or network rail line
- academy schools
- junction boxes
- telephone boxes
- mobile phone masts
- telegraph poles
- housing associations
- bus shelters
If you have been a victim of vandalism, in the form of graffiti on your property, it will unfortunately remain your responsibility to remove this from the surfaces affected.
If this has happened to you, it is recommended you report any vandalism on your property to Humberside Police, especially if you feel you have been the victim of a hate crime e.g. motivated by hostility or prejudice towards that -
- person's age
- disability
- race or ethnicity
- religion or belief
- sexual orientation
- transgender identity.
You can do this by calling 101 or online
Report racist graffiti crime to Humberside Police
If you wish to report graffiti on a railway property, please do not use the above forms and instead contact Network Rail directly by calling 0345 711 4141 or visit
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/contact-us/
Community Payback
Magistrates or judges can sentence offenders to carry out unpaid work as part of their sentence through Community Payback and this takes place across Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire throughout the year.
If you wish to nominate a project to take place in Hull such as graffiti removal please follow this link
Penalties
Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 it makes it an offence for any person to destroy, or cause damage, without lawful excuse to do so. For example murals placed on a property with the permission of the property owner is not criminal damage.
If you have evidence to help us take action against anyone responsible for graffiti this may result in -
- £100 fixed penalty
- prosecution and a maximum penalty of £5,000 in addition to the recovery of any costs for repairing any damage caused
