Criminal Damage

Vandalising bus shelters, throwing eggs at cars, bricks through windows, forcing entry into a house are all examples of criminal damage.

Graffiti can also be illegal unless the owner of the building has given permission for the areas to be used to practice graffiti art on.

Graffiti is an offence of criminal damage and if prosecuted the offender could face a fine or even imprisonment.

It could also affect the value or the lives of those in the neighbourhood. For example if someone was to have graffiti put on to the wall of their house, it could make the owner feel nervous, as if they are being targeted deliberately, it could also affect the property if they were trying to sell it.

Did you know :

• Under 16's are not permitted to buy aerosol paint cans
• Local authorities can issue fixed penalty notices for offences of graffiti
• Local authorities are responsible for cleaning it up from public buildings and fixtures. They can also clean it from private buildings and can bill the owner for the work
• Graffiti should be initially reported to the local authority.