Day of action to clean up tagging and graffiti

Property Consultant SHW is joining forces with Brighton and Hove City Council and CityClean in a 'clean-up coalition', to draw attention to ‘tags’ – scrawls and squiggles on buildings.

The day of action will consist of CityClean and other cleaning teams targeting some of the worst-affected sites in the city such as Jew St, Brighton Square and London Road as well as advice and information for those whose homes and premises are affected by tagging. SHW has also commissioned a mural by the artist Sarah Gillings on the side of Hanover House, Queen’s Road.

Damian Marmura, head of CityClean operations, said: “Graffiti is a major blight on our city, so we hope this joint day of action with SHW is the first of many we carry out with local businesses. The council will always be happy to help businesses remove graffiti and tagging from their buildings, but they must remember they are responsible for their own properties.

“We applaud SHW for taking the initiative to get some of the most unsightly graffiti and tagging in our city removed, and we hope other businesses do the same.”

Charles Draycott, executive chairman of international property company Centurion, said: “A fantastic initiative and example by SHW to the citizens of Brighton to take care of our spectacular city.”

Robert Perry, property management partner for SHW said: “We spend tens of thousands of pounds every year on behalf of landlords removing this mess, which is obviously a waste of time, money and resources for everyone concerned.”

Sussex Police chief inspector Chris Veale said: "We are obviously aware that there is an enormous amount of graffiti around the city and the vast majority of it is unwanted, damaging and a blight on Brighton and Hove.

"However, it is not often reported to police, but where it is, we will work with Brighton and Hove City Council, other partners and those affected to prosecute those responsible. To be successful, this needs everyone to play a part and I would urge anyone with information about who is carrying out this vandalism to get in touch with us.

"It may be art to a handful of people, but it's criminal damage to the vast majority of the citizens of Brighton and Hove and we're keen to work towards seeing it eradicated."

Brighton and Hove City Council said: "It is illegal to graffiti on any surface without the owner's permission. Graffiti can also encourage further anti-social behaviour including flyposting and the dumping of waste."