Only offensive graffiti to be removed in a bid to save funds

By Tara O’Connor, local democracy reporter

Only offensive and obscene graffiti will now be removed from walls and property in Croydon as the council works to save money.

At the end of December last year the council’s dedicated graffiti removal team was scrapped.

The responsibility now falls under the council’s highways team and means that much of the graffiti in the borough will not be removed.

The issue was raised by Waddon councillor Robert Canning who asked what will now be done if a resident reports graffiti in their neighbourhood.

At a meeting on Monday, January 25 cabinet member for sustainable Croydon, councillor Muhammad Ali, said: “Under the streamlined service we have reviewed our approach to graffiti in the borough.

“The priority will be offensive graffiti on council land and this will be defined by graffiti using racist or inflammatory images, used as an attack against a group or individual and also graffiti using swear words, sexually explicit or obscene words and images.”

Councillor Canning went on to ask what should be done if people see graffiti which does not meet this criteria and whether residents should take to cleaning it up themselves.

But cllr Ali confirmed that unless the vandalism is offensive the council will not be taking action.

Offensive graffiti can still be reported through the council’s Love Clean Streets app along with a photograph which will be forwarded to the team.

Cllr Ali added: “For offensive graffiti on private land they will contact the landowner for the removal as quickly as possible.

“Unfortunately under this new service we will not be able to prioritise the removal of non-offensive graffiti at this moment in time.”