Graffiti and Fly-posting can blight communities and contribute
to resident’s fear of crime. Wherever practicable, MSDC will remove
graffiti and fly-posting, giving priority to racist, abusive or
offensive types.
MSDC are working in Partnership with Stowmarket Town Council to
improve the local environmental quality of Stowmarket. MSDC provide
annual funding to allow the Town Council to employ a full time
person to attend to problems such as graffiti and increased litter
during school holidays. Any incidents of environmental crime
should, however, still be reported to MSDC customer services on
0845 606 6067 to allow for correct record keeping.
Graffiti
Graffiti will be removed from areas
accessible to the public including:
- Street surfaces and buildings and structures in/on the public
street
- Land, buildings and structures owned by an educational
institution or statutory undertaker including transport
operators.
- Mid Suffolk District Council property
- Private property visible to the public (if this is not
undertaken by the property owner)
The council does not have the power to remove graffiti from land
and properties belonging to the Crown or the National Health
Service. Under the Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act
(2005), the defacement of private property must be offensive or
detrimental to the local amenity to qualify for free removal by the
council.
Where the defacement is on private property, the council
encourages property owners to remove graffiti. Failure to do this
may result in the issuing of a Defacement Removal Notice. However,
if the defacement is offensive, MSDC are happy to work with the
owners to remove the defacement as quickly as possible.
Fly-posting
It is an offence to fly-post, and if
displayed on private property, the owner is liable unless they can
prove that the advertisement was displayed without knowledge, or
that they took all reasonable steps to prevent or remove the
advertisement.
Section 44 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 empowers
authorised MSDC Officers to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 for
graffiti and fly-posting. ‘Racially aggravated’ defacement is
considered to be a more serious form of criminal damage; such
offences should be reported to the Police.
To report an incident of graffiti or fly-posting please contact our
Customer Service
Centre
Related links
Suffolk
Police