Graffiti Prevention
A misconception that many people have is that graffiti is a part of society that little can be done to prevent. Despite the persistence of graffiti taggers and the prevalence of graffiti culture in many cities there are many strategies that can be employed to deter and prevent graffiti (Weisel, 2011).
17.1 Risk versus Reward
Although graffiti presents significant risks to those that engage in the practice of it, in the eyes of the writers there is a reward that justifies the risk (Weisel, 2011). Regardless of the background of the writer there is a clear element of gratification received through tagging that is perceived as being worth the potential risks. Graffiti is one of the few crimes that are committed not for monetary profit, or out of rage or hate, but out of the sheer gratification of tagging. The rewards that graffiti delivers are different depending on the category of tagger, but for the most part graffiti provides feelings of increased self-worth from being recognized in the community as well as from gaining accolades from the graffiti subculture (Weisel, 2011). Although it appears that deterring graffiti and discouraging taggers is an arduous task, understanding graffiti in terms of risk versus reward provides insight to the motivational factors that can support graffiti prevention. The negotiation of risk versus reward is what graffiti taggers consciously or subconsciously assess in their decision making process regarding if, when and where to tag. Assessing risk versus reward, taggers continually search for locations that will get them maximum reward of visibility with the least likelihood of being caught (Weisel, 2011). Locations such as trains, major transportation routes, and elevated locations such as rooftops and water towers usually provide a great deal of exposure with minimal chance of being noticed, making for ideal graffiti locations (Weisel, 2011). From the perspective of prevention, by reducing, minimizing or eliminating the reward factor that the writer experiences, locations become less enticing to graffiti writers. Likewise, increasing the risk factor associated with a property, location or community, the enticing factors for tagging diminishes substantially (Weisel, 2011). Although taking risks is often part of the allure for graffiti vandals, these risks are calculated in relation to the situational potential rewards that are offered. By either reducing the situational reward or increasing the situational risk to the tagger, the likelihood of graffiti activity declines substantially (Freilich, D. & Newman, G., 2017). The manipulation of this risk/reward ratio can come about as a result of changing factors in the environment or changing the mindset of graffiti writers. In the case of manipulation of the environment there are a number of ways to approach this.
17.2 Elevating Risk and Reducing Rewards
In altering the environmental conditions to deter illegal graffiti there are a number of strategies that cities and communities can employ to elevate the level of risk for taggers. Cities like Burnaby, BC. promote deterrence through environmental design, employing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles (Weisel, 2011). Through building design, foliage placement, and specialized lighting, environments are able to achieve increased visibility and exposure to elevate the risk levels for potential vandals. Making areas with likelihood of criminal activity highly visible or elevating the amount of foot or vehicle traffic greatly increases the chances of being noticed and caught. The use of technology is another proven method of deterrence, with motion, infrared, and thermal cameras available that substantially elevate the risk to the perpetrator (Weisel, 2011). One of the most recent and successful methods is the use of specialized anti-graffiti high frequency lighting systems. This system, although silent and non-invasive to the community, emits high frequency lighting flash patterns that are visually distracting to potential vandals or trespassers while attracting attention to the location and elevating risk. In the case of this specialized lighting, the risk is greatly elevated while the reward of being able to paint is substantially reduced.
The City of Burnaby has embraced this risk versus reward principal by creating an anti-graffiti initiative that has been successful in reducing and eliminating graffiti from some of the most vandalized areas of the city (City of Burnaby, 2007). Burnaby has implemented a policy of mandatory and immediate removal of all graffiti on public and private property through a municipal bylaw that specifically address graffiti. Utilizing this strategy, property owners must remove graffiti promptly, resulting in minimal gratification and reward for the graffiti vandal (Weisel, 2011). In this scenario the risk has remained the same, while the reward for spending the night out tagging has been all but eliminated, deterring the tagger from returning to this area and possibly evaluating the value of creating graffiti.
Picture Frames
One of the most important elements in graffiti prevention is knowing where and how to apply attention. In identifying the areas of cities that are in need of graffiti management it is valuable to look at the elements of predictability to determine where graffiti is most likely to occur and why. Understanding the rationale of graffiti and the attraction of certain surfaces and locations from a graffiti perspective can predict the likelihood of vandalism on elements in an urban environment, and provide support for potential for prevention. Looking at the motivational factors of graffiti from an environmental perspective, there are physical elements that exist within a city that act as strong opportunities to showcase one’s work as a graffiti writer (Norman, 2004). Norman (2004) refers to these items as screen savers that use bounded elements like window and doors in the way that a frames graffiti. As picture frames accentuate and direct focus to a work of art or a canvas painting on a wall in an art gallery, certain elements in cityscapes offer the same potential to illegal graffiti writers. Although almost any surface can and is defaced with graffiti, objects and surfaces that break up the linear landscapes present a higher potential for graffiti vandalism. Objects that disrupt the continuity of spaces provide a stronger presentation structure for graffiti tags, attracting more visual focus and attention. Utility boxes, lamp posts, garbage cans, newspaper boxes all function like picture frames to a person intent on tagging, offering a surface that is more attractive because of the elevated noticeability and reward it presents for the tagger. The concept of picture frames does not only apply to smaller street level objects such as news boxes and poles, but holds just as true and even more enticing on larger urban objects and structures. Items such as bridge supports, overpasses, or railway pillars are all highly valued picture frames in the graffiti world, as are retaining walls or highway fencing. Perhaps there is no better demonstration of the concept of picture frames than rail cars. Compartmentalized and visually contrasting to the aesthetics of almost any environment, each rail car provides a surface that is detached from the urban setting that has the additional feature of long range mobility, making them traveling picture frames and an ideal surface for graffiti.
Similar to concepts used in street level advertising, in the eyes of the graffiti writer, highly visible surfaces that are viewed by many people is a highly prized and sought after piece or real estate. When communities with high traffic and mass population visibility are combined with objects that act as picture frames, it is almost inevitable that there is going to be graffiti activity. This understanding provides municipalities the opportunity to look at these elements and pre-emptively address the locations with the highest likelihood of graffiti vandalism and implement strategies to reduce the likelihood of graffiti through the principals of risk and reward.
18.0 Summary of Prevention Strategies
Reducing and eliminating graffiti on a large scale often requires a multi-directional strategy implementing both risk increasing strategies and reward reducing measures. In smaller cities and developing communities devising and executing graffiti prevention strategies is not difficult and the results can be immediately obvious. For larger cities that have an existing graffiti problem this may be a more difficult undertaking but not impossible. Larger cities typically are heavily afflicted by graffiti and are entrenched with active taggers in several areas and regions, making it difficult to address their vandalism issue on a broad scale. Some cities or communities that experience heavy amounts of graffiti may not have the resources, or community partnerships making it difficult to remove the existing graffiti without even going into implementing prevention strategies. Although situations like this present a more significant challenge there are strategies that can be employed to achieve success in reducing graffiti.
18.1 Community Engagement
Burnaby has been successful in its graffiti prevention strategy with a modest budget through the work of its graffiti management program’s extensive community engagement initiatives (City of Burnaby, 2007). The City has invested in educating and engaging community members on the cost and detriment of graffiti, encouraging groups and individuals to become involved in maintaining of their own communities. Through outreach into community groups, business associations, local media, and schools, Burnaby has successfully enlisted the help of its residents in the reporting and removal of graffiti. Working with community members, the City has organized and supports graffiti programs that enlist the services of students, adult volunteer groups, business improvement associations, and law enforcement in graffiti removal and community beautification initiatives. One of the main keys to success has been the education and engagement of community members in the immediate removal of graffiti and reducing the reward to current and prospective vandals.
18.2 Bylaws
One of the strongest tools the City of Burnaby utilizes its Graffiti Bylaw to enforce mandatory removal of graffiti (City of Burnaby, 2007). This strategy applies not only to buildings owners, but the transportation systems, utilities companies, and all other organizations that operate within the city. Having constructed a strict bylaw that is enforceable with penalties and fines, Burnaby is sensitive to double victimizing vandalized property owners and takes measures to ensure positive community relationships through the approach of support by providing paints and materials as well as organizing community volunteers to assist in graffiti removal when possible. Through this bylaw process, private properties in Burnaby are approximately 95% compliant in removing graffiti within 1 week of being issued a Graffiti Bylaw notice.
18.3 Reducing Picture Frames
The City of Burnaby promotes initiatives directed at reducing the rewards for potential graffiti vandals by addressing the amount of open, visually unobstructed surfaces. Identifying elements considered to be “picture frames” for graffiti, Burnaby works closely with local utilities companies and public service organizations to transform these elements into surfaces that are less likely to be tagged. By applying decorative vinyl wraps to mail boxes, utility distribution boxes, graphics on bus shelters and other elements that act as picture frames, these objects become less inviting to vandals. By applying graphics to make these items either blend in with the surroundings, provide little visual space for tagging or making them visually interesting the likelihood of them being tagged has been significantly reduced while adding elements of beautification to the community. City staffs apply prompt attention to the removal of all graffiti on public property, with particular emphasis on structures such as light posts, controller boxes, road signage, street barriers, overpass pillars, bridges, tunnels and other items that function as picture frames that juxtapose to the surroundings, again removing the reward for vandals.
18.4 Lighting
Following CPTED principals, Burnaby encourages properties most afflicted with graffiti to take measures to elevate the risk to vandals with the installation of lighting. Applying lighting on walls and structures that have graffiti activity, as well as the surrounding areas, increases the risk of the vandals being noticed which can act as a strong deterrent. One of the most effective methods of preventing graffiti, trespassing, loitering and other property crime is a new lighting product specifically designed to deter vandals and trespassers as they approach a potential graffiti surface or enter a property. Effective for property crime protection as well as graffiti prevention, the visual intensity and pattern frequency disrupt trespassers before they are able to do damage or engage in criminal acts.
18.5 Education
Providing a strong educational component that offers information on the nature of graffiti and its detriment to society is an important component in creating positive community engagement. Often the perception of graffiti is one of disregard or even of appreciation without understanding what constitutes a majority of graffiti on the streets and to what degree of damage to the social wellbeing of communities it causes. The City of Burnaby’s community brochure (2007) is provided to residents, schools, community groups, and businesses within the city as method relaying information on graffiti as well as preventative strategies and engagement that community members can engage in. Outreach into schools is a very effective strategy for instilling prevention through information, as well as providing educators, maintenance personnel and those that work in the schools system insight to graffiti and what to look for identifying young people gravitating towards graffiti. Community education directed towards an adult population is an effective way to build partnerships, encourage neighbourhood accountability, and engage residents and businesses in graffiti prevention and removal (City of Burnaby, 2007).
18.6 Removal
The top priority for graffiti management of any community large or small should be the rapid removal of illegal graffiti. Focusing on elimination of the reward for vandals or potential graffiti taggers is paramount in detracting from the allure of graffiti (City of Burnaby, 2007). As the graffiti sub-culture is a well-connected and highly communicative community, to broadcast the message that graffiti is instantly removed in a neighbourhood or city is a strong demotivating factor for those exposing themselves to the risk of creating graffiti.
Although instigating and executing the above strategies can be an arduous task, particularly with cities with minimal resources or with extensive graffiti activity, there are strategies that can be successfully employed. In cases where there is an extensive existing graffiti problem it is recommended to strategically select on specific areas or communities in applying principals of risk and reward graffiti management. By compartmentalizing and applying focus on distinct regions of a city is an effective strategy for reducing graffiti in large cities with extensive graffiti presence and limited resources. Completely removing graffiti from and maintaining cleanliness of a particular community, neighbourhood or district sends a message to not only the graffiti subculture, but also to the members of the greater community. When one area has been cleaned, and maintained, a community education and engagement strategy should be implemented to enlist the assistance of community members before switching focus to a different region and repeating the process.
18.7 Intervention
The destructive impact that graffiti has on the community, as well as the physical, emotional, and psychological repercussions it has on those immersed the graffiti lifestyle raises concerns of the seriousness of the problem and the best way to deter people from becoming involved in doing graffiti. Although graffiti taggers fall into different motivational categories making it impossible to determine a single solution, one of the strategies that has been found to be most effective has been early intervention programs. Spicer (2005) has done extensive work with graffiti offenders throughout Vancouver with positive results. Graffiti is extremely difficult to treat once a person has become immersed in the lifestyle, making early recognition and intervention extremely advantageous (Spicer, 2005). Being able to identify and reach early offenders as well as those that have high likelihood to gravitate towards graffiti is ideal in deterring young people from entering into the subculture and building social ties with others who are involved with graffiti. The importance of being able to identify, distinguish and classify the different categories of graffiti taggers provides graffiti prevention personnel the opportunity to leverage different strategies of intervention based on the category of writer. Spicer (2005) has had a great deal of success in identifying, connecting with and working with various graffiti writers in Vancouver. Through various approaches, she has been able to engage in direct communication with members of the graffiti community, and work with them to redirect them from the practice and lifestyle of graffiti. Understanding the different motivations provides the potential of intervention strategies that outline consequences, offer incentives and provide options to deter writers and potential writers from entering or continuing with the graffiti. Through this strategy some taggers, depending on their classification and levels of emersion, can be reached, and with the appropriate intervention can be swayed toward more positive social behaviour. Through intervention, and redirection away from graffiti and other criminal activity through risk versus. reward manipulation some writers leave this lifestyle completely. An effective approach, especially in the case of youth and at risk youth is the involvement in specialized programs. The City of Vancouver’s Restart program was a successful proactive outlet that provided youth engaged in the graffiti subculture exposure to positive elements of public art and mentorship from positive community members (Spicer, 2005). Likewise, the Art of Empowerment Program based in Burnaby, aligns at risk youth with high achieving youth, and members of the community in a mentorship program based on murals and positive visual aesthetics initiatives.
18.8 Positive Visual Aesthetics
As well as the prevention strategies that the City of Burnaby has successfully employed, there are also city wide initiatives that are using positive visual aesthetics to inspire and engage the community. Similar to the works of Edi Rama of Tirana (Pusca, 2008), Burnaby has engaged in positive visual aesthetics to elevate social capital in their communities. Following with their social sustainability plan, the city has allotted 20% of city property to be maintained or converted green space and parkland, mandated the creation of public art in almost all of its new commercial/residential developments, and has engaged in several public arts initiatives. The city has committed to the ongoing beautification through the creation of eco sculptures that communicate the value of local ecosystems, the public arts program that facilitates public arts in schools and community centres, and the citywide mural program that uses large scale murals to beautify walls and buildings, uplifting some of the most economically and socially challenged areas of the city.
19.0 The Art of Empowerment Program
The Burnaby based Art of Empowerment youth program (Polich, 2010), provides an opportunity for secondary school students to engage in positive community engagement. Working in conjunction with the City of Burnaby Mural Program the Art of Empowerment provides youth a peer based opportunity to discover and use their talents collaboratively in bettering the community in which they live. This program provides an opportunity for students, at risk youth including youth with graffiti background to engage in positive community aesthetic initiatives, where they socialize and build networks with inspiring, socially positive youth, while gaining guidance and mentorship from community leaders that participate alongside the youth in the mural projects. These projects are based on the creation of positive visual aesthetics and community beautification works under the same principals as the broken window theory, and the spreading of disorder theory, only using positive visual aesthetics to promote positive social capital.
The creation of community beautification initiatives sends a message throughout the community that people care and that neighbourhoods are actively engaged in building stronger and more beautiful communities. Although these positive visual initiatives are geared toward community beautification, enhancing community engagement and building positive social, they also provide another option to illegal graffiti and those gravitating to illegal vandalism.
20.0 Legalized Graffiti and Free Walls
The benefits of mural programs like those of the City of Burnaby, Philadelphia, and Vancouver’s initiatives are becoming more and more recognized, and although they do provide a benefit to the community they run the risk of misinterpretation. Some advocates of graffiti confuse the differentiating factors between legal murals and illegal graffiti. Many people believe that graffiti is an art form that not only provides benefit to the writers, but to the cities themselves through creativity, vitality, and flair. Attempting to compromise and accommodate this element and the potential of promoting arts, expression and culture, some cities have attempted to accommodate graffiti writers by providing them with opportunities to create graffiti known as free walls. Free walls, have been instigated to allow graffiti to take place in the hope that this will satisfy the need of the writers and appease the proponents, while containing the graffiti to designated parts of the city.
The resulting outcome of partial permission, unregulated free wall initiatives usually results in an elevation of graffiti related incidents outside of the designated area. The areas intended to contain the graffiti often acts as incubators for new writers, and inspires novice and veteran taggers alike to expand the “legalized” zone and push their tags into other areas of the city. Unintentionally, these initiatives actually act to promote the graffiti culture, and increase the amount of damage and social and economic cost to the cities that host such initiatives.