White Paper

The Local Government White Paper, Strong and prosperous communities, is out today.  The BBC have been covering it have have used LoveLewisham as way of explaining what the paper is trying to do.

You can see the video here, read what the BBC say here and see the LoveLewisham blog here.

 The White Paper itself has this to say about Lewisham’s use of the Mediaklik technology:

local authorities are using information technology to improve responsiveness to local people’s needs. For example, the ‘LoveLewisham’ scheme allows residents to text or email pictures of problems like graffiti or fly-tipping to the council. The pictures appear on a website so the public can track what action is being taken.

graffiti and the law

I saw this on my lunch break today and thought it might be useful to look at what the law says about graffiti.

Graffiti is criminal damage as set out in the Criminal Damage Act 1971 and if the damage caused to a building is more than £5,000 then if caught the person responsible could face upto 10 years imprisonment (if they are over 18).  Young people between the age of 12 and 17 can be detention and training order of up to 24 months.

Where the damage is less the maximum penalty is 3 months imprisonment or a fine of upto 32,500 for adults.

Local authorities also have the ability to use Fixed Penalty Notices.  The Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act enables a local authority to vary the fixed penalty amount for a graffiti or fly-posting offence in its area. Where no amount is specified by a local authority the base amount is £75.

The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 makes it an offence to sell aerosol paints to persons aged under 16.

Local authorities also have the power to require that graffiti is removed and if it isn’t to reclaim the costs.

Lewisham want to Identify Graffiti Vandals (from News Shopper)

One of Lewisham’s local newspapers report on efforts being made by the council to reduce the level of graffiti in their borough:

Last year Lewisham Council removed 25,335 square metres of graffiti at a cost of over £275,000.

Hotspots include: Bankfoot, Rushey Green, Lee Green and Brockley.

It usually takes three hours to remove graffiti with specialised graffiti equipment, with a team of eight staff working five days a week on the problem.

If anyone can identify a tag they should ring enviro-call on 020 8314 7171 and ask to be put through to the graffiti team. Residents can also visit the LoveLewisham website.

A new anti-graffiti coating is also being applied to shops and businesses across the borough.

Of course, if you’re here you’ll probably already know that the Love Lewisham website is powered by Mediaklik technology and that it was responsible for helping Lewisham Council triple the amount of graffiti removed last year at twice the speed, without a significant increase in budget.