Issue - meetings

Purpose

To update the Portfolio Holder on the progress since funding has been made available to tackle graffiti on private buildings and other non-Portsmouth City Council owned assets.

RECOMMENDED that the report be noted.

Colette Hill, Assistant Director for Neighbourhoods introduced the report and in response to questions, explained that:

In most cases once cleaned, there have been no re-occurrences.  In the two or three cases where there have been repeat incidents, the council is looking into whether it is possible to put in re-deployable cameras.  People are sending in their ring doorbell footage which is always very welcome.  Identifying the perpetrators can be difficult as they often wear hoods and wear masks.  Preventing people doing it is more important than cleaning up.

The team prioritises incidents in terms of the impact that they are having on residents.  The deployable cameras will stay in place for as long as the problems persist to build up a picture of patterns, descriptions and clothing.

The type of street art that is done by My Dog Sighs with permission is quite different from the type of work that the council is trying to address.  Historically, that street art is not tagged, but in Hilsea it has been a couple of times. 

Many of the perpetrators the council and police have caught were adults.  There is quite a lot of political graffiti being done now which is more often by adults.   Any suggestions on how it can be prevented e.g. canvas boards could be made available specifically for graffiti would be welcomed.

Councillor Barrett noted that residents are very upset about graffiti and thanked the team for their very quick response to incidents.  She added that it is very important to support the creators of authorised street art, some of which is fantastic.

It is frustrating that sometimes landowners do not respond to the council's offer to clear the graffiti on their land. 

DECISION

The report was noted.