Brighton and Hove City Council issued 15 fixed penalty notices for graffiti in the last six months compared with just five in the same period last year.
The city council that “the most prolific taggers are being put to work, cleaning up and painting over the tags” while the fine for graffiti tagging has been increased from £150 to £500.
Councillor Tim Rowkins, chairman of the city environment, South Downs and the sea committee, said: “We’ve been working hard to tackle tagging in the city, and I’m very pleased to see that we’re starting to identify and catch more offenders.
“Larger fines and stronger enforcement will play a key part, but we’re now looking at what other steps we can take to reduce the scale of the problem.
“We really want to hear from the people who live and work in Brighton and Hove about tackling this scourge, which costs the city many thousands of pounds to remove and clean.
“Graffiti tagging has such a negative impact on the look and feel of Brighton and Hove and we’re determined to get on top of it to ensure our streets and buildings are clean and welcoming for everyone.”
The city council said it wants to hear from residents, businesses and community groups on what more it can do to tackle the problem.
A seven-week consultation has now been launched in which people can share their views on preventing, enforcing and removing tagging across the city.
The feedback it gets will be used to shape a new graffiti tagging reduction strategy. This will then be put before councillors on the city environment, South Downs and the sea committee for final approval.
READ MORE: Sussex Police investigating aggravated burglary in Shoreham
The consultation closes on January 9, 2024.
It comes as the city council announces it has stepped up enforcement on fly-tipping.
It issued 185 fly-tipping fines in September and October this year, more than double that of the same period last year at 91.
Source link
[Featured]
[Just In]
