Defintions of 'Graffiti':
"...the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property. Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings."
Wikipedia
"One or more letters, symbols, figures, etching, scratches, inscriptions, stains, or other markings that disfigure or deface a structure or thing, howsoever made or otherwise affixed on the structure or thing, but, for greater certainty, does not include an art mural."
City of Toronto Graffiti Bylaw
"...any spontaneous or unauthorized writing or drawing on walls, vehicles, and other public places. It is typically obscene or political in character, but a great deal of humor and wisdom can also be found."
uncp
"is the term that refers to drawings, patterns, scribbles and messages or ‘tags’ that are painted, written or carved on walls and other surfaces."
Bournemouth council
"Illegal or unauthorized defacing of public or private property, from juvenile scrawls to large murals."
defra
Negative effects of graffiti:
- Poses a risk to the health, safety and welfare of a community.
- Promotes a perception in the community that laws protecting public and private property can be disregarded with impunity.
- Fosters a sense of disrespect for private property that may result in increasing crime, community degradation and urban blight.
- Creates a nuisance that can adversely affect property values, business opportunities and the enjoyment of community life.
- Graffiti is a sign of a neglected neighbourhood and is associated with increased levels of crime and the fear of crime.
- It discourages investment and new businesses from moving into the area.
Statistics & Facts
It is estimated that graffiti costs the UK over £1 billion per year to clean up
http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/News/features/graffiti.asp
Overall Environmental Standards in Leeds City Council
http://www.direct.gov.uk
The partnership organisations have agreed to remove graffiti within the following timescales:
Racist or offensive graffiti - within 24 hours
Other graffiti - 7 to 14 working days
Exceptional circumstances - average 28 days except where rail line closures are necessary. This may take up to 8 weeks to arrange.
http://www.leeds.gov.uk
Those caught causing graffiti can be prosecuted under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Those found guilty can be fined up to £5000. Young offenders may be given a community service order.
http://www.southwark.gov.uk
Keith Haring was another well-known graffiti artist who brought Pop Art and graffiti to the commercial mainstream. In the 1980s, Haring opened his first Pop Shop: a store that offered everyone access to his works—which until then could only be found spray-painted on city walls. Pop Shop offered commodities like bags and t-shirts. Haring explained that, "The Pop Shop makes my work accessible. It's about participation on a big level, the point was that we didn't want to produce things that would cheapen the art. In other words, this was still art as statement".
http://wikpiedia.org
Between March and April 2009, 150 artists exhibited 300 pieces of graffiti at the Grand Palais in Paris - a clear acceptance of the art form into the French art world.
http://www.rfi.fr
The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 became Britain's latest anti-graffiti legislation. In August 2004, the Keep Britain Tidy campaign issued a press release calling for zero tolerance of graffiti and supporting proposals such as issuing "on the spot" fines to graffiti offenders and banning the sale of aerosol paint to anyone under the age of 16.
UK press release (Wikipedia)
Some councils, like that at Stroud, Gloucestershire provide approved areas round the town where graffiti artists can showcase their talents, including underpasses, car parks and walls that might otherwise prove a target for the 'spray and run.'
http://www.bbc.co.uk
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