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I wanted to provide an update regarding Vandalism/ graffiti, which members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey. 🚫 STOP VANDALISM & GRAFFITI 🚫
Protect Our Community. Respect Our Shared Spaces.
Graffiti and vandalism are not harmless pranks. They damage property, create unnecessary costs, and can make our neighbourhoods feel neglected and unsafe.
The Impact
❌ Damage to homes, businesses, and public property
❌ Costly repairs paid for by property owners and taxpayers
❌ Reduced community pride
❌ Negative impact on local businesses and residents
❌ Increased fear of crime and anti-social behaviour
KNOW THE LAW
Graffiti Is Criminal Damage
In England and Wales, graffiti placed on property without the owner's permission is generally treated as criminal damage under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Destroying or damaging someone else's property intentionally or recklessly is a criminal offence.
Possible Consequences
⚖️ Criminal record
💷 Fines and compensation payments
🧹 Community service or unpaid work
🏛️ Court appearance and prosecution
🚔 In serious cases, imprisonment may apply
Anti-Social Behaviour Enforcement
Local authorities have powers to require the removal of graffiti that harms the appearance of an area and can take action where it is not cleaned up.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
✅ Report vandalism and graffiti promptly
✅ Respect public and private property
✅ Encourage positive community involvement
✅ Help keep local areas clean and welcoming
✅ Speak up if you witness criminal damage
🏡 Clean Community • Safe Community • Proud Community
See It. Report It. Stop It.
 We want to ensure everyone is able to keep their property safe from vandalism or defacement in your local area. As such, through conversations with homeowners, members of the public, police officers and staff we’ve collated our 5 Top Tips for safeguarding a property. Please see the advice listed below: - Stay visible: Having a property that can’t be seen from the street may make it more susceptible to being a target of vandalism. Make sure you are limiting places around your property where vandals can hide.
- Create a fence/boundary: By doing this, you’re creating a visible barrier that works as a reminder that if someone crosses uninvited, they would be trespassing.
- Keep it secure: Evaluate your property and be sure to safeguard vulnerable points such as ground floor windows with one-metre high sharp, prickly bushes.
- Extra security: If you have a surface which anyone can sit on – like a ledge or a low wall – some carefully placed plants can work as a good deterrent. Also, you can secure the side and rear boundary of your property with a two-metre-high fence topped with a trellis.
- Keep it tidy: If the property looks untidy, some people won’t think twice about adding to it or simply hanging around in the area. We would advise you not to leave rubbish, ladders, wheelie bins or anything else that could be used for burglary or vandalism in the property's vicinity.
For more advice and up-to-the-minute information about the latest crime prevention products, visit Secured by Design – an official police security initiative. We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years. | 
