Graffiti

Graffiti Prevention Strategy (GPS)

The Graffiti Prevention Strategy (GPS) is a three-year project, funded through a $125,558 grant from the federal government’s National Crime Prevention Centre and Crime Prevention Action Fund and $109,700 in services in kind from the City of Hamilton.  The program is unique as it is both community and police-centred making if the first broad-based graffiti program involving sustainable partnerships in Ontario.

Similar to many urban centres, the City of Hamilton has seen a proliferation of graffiti over the last twelve months.

Graffiti causes severe property damage, intensifies fear of crime and hurts the health of our community.

The goals of the GPS are to reduce the amount of visible graffiti in neighbourhoods, education citizens on graffiti related issues and mobilize citizens by encouraging them to participate in the program.

What is Graffiti?

Graffiti is an act of vandalism and it places a significant burden on the City of Hamilton.  For example, it increases the fear of crime in the area and requires a large amount of money to eradicate.

There are eight types of graffiti, all of which can be seen throughout the City.

1. Hip hop (80 – 90%)
2. Gang (1 – 2%)
3. Hate Crime Graffiti (3 – 5%)
4. Folk Epigraphy:  The writings of a common man.  For example, ‘Billy was here’ or ‘Katie loves Jack’ (0 – 1%)
5. Political activism:  ‘Bring the troops home (1 – 2%)
6. Stencil Graffiti (1 – 2%)
7. Latrinalia Graffiti:  graffiti on bathroom stalls (2 – 3%)
8. Satanic/Cult (0 – 1%)

What you can do to help

Reporting Graffiti

If your property or business is marked by graffiti, remove it as soon as possible.  The quick removal of graffiti is the most effective means to prevent further acts of vandalism.

If you witness an act of graffiti, call Hamilton Police at 9-1-1.  If you know of graffiti active, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 905-522-TIPS.

Report existing graffiti by calling 905-546-CITY (2489) or on-line at www.hamilton.ca/graffitiform.  Please be as specific as possible in the location and description of the graffiti.  Incidents of graffiti will be prioritized and ones that are considered harmful to the community will be immediately removed.

Property owners are responsible for removing graffiti from their own property as per City By-law.

Graffiti Prevention Tips

• Apply graffiti resistant coatings to protect your walls.  This can be very expensive however; it will replace the cost of having to continually clean up graffiti with pricey chemicals and equipment.
  
• Install video surveillance to monitor isolated areas.
  
• Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.
  
• Increase lighting and visibility in vulnerable areas.
  
• Restrict access to walls by planting “creepers” such as ivy or thorny bushes.
  
• Use chain link fences, as opposed to other fences which create a solid surface for graffiti.