Graffiti
Contact: Street Scene Services
Phone: (01395) 517528
Email: streetscene@eastdevon.gov.uk
Graffiti is criminal damage as well as being unsightly. Street Scene will remove graffiti from property owned by East Devon District Council. If the graffiti is offensive (racist, homophobic etc) then we will aim to remove it within 48 hours of it being reported. If the graffiti is not of a highly offensive nature then we will remove it within 14 days.
Under certain circumstances, Streetscene may remove graffiti from private residential property for a small charge (£30). However, we do not offer this service for commercial property or private sector landlords. Please contact Streetscene Operations on the number above for more information on this service. However, before doing so please read the information below as graffiti is sometimes very easy and cheap to remove yourself.
Removing Graffiti
Wiping it out
Most graffiti is made by either permanent marker pens or spray paint from a can.
New graffiti is easier to remove as it has had less time to dry properly and stain the surface. Also, small areas of graffiti are often added to so it's best to remove graffiti as quickly as possible.
Brush it out
A simple solution to graffiti on wood and previously painted surfaces is to paint over the top. However, for best results, the surface should first be scrubbed or even primed (particularly when the graffiti is dark). Anti graffiti paints are available which make graffiti removal a lot easier.
Scrub and wash it off
Graffiti on non-porous surfaces such as sound masonry paint, tiles, shiny bricks and glossy paints can often be scrubbed off using a strong detergent and lots of elbow grease.
It is likely that traces of graffiti will be left, but this may fade a little over time or is very easily painted over.
Stubborn graffiti
This sort of graffiti can be removed with the help of specific removal products available from hardware stores, but it very much depends of the surface involved.
Read the instructions first before using any of these products and always follow the safety advice.
You may wish to use a specialist company listed in the local phone directory under graffiti removers or painting contractors. Click here to visit yell.com for help finding graffiti removers in your area.
Disclaimer: The information given on this page is for general guidance only and East Devon District Council accepts no liability for damage resulting from the removal of graffiti. If in any doubt, consult a professsional graffiti removal company for advice.
Reporting Graffiti
To report graffiti to the police, please call 08452 777444
When contacting East Devon District Council, please take a moment to think about what you are going to say before calling. Your call is important to us but, with the high volume of calls, a possible lack of information could result in either delayed reaction time or even the named problems not being found.
The use of the following 5 W's can help everyone:
- Who - you are and if possible a contact telephone number
- What - is the problem
- Where - the problem is (road names and reference or prominent points reduce the time spent searching for problems)
- When - the problem was first noticed /occurred
- Which - actions, if any, you or anyone else have taken and any other relevant information
