Graffiti
Graffiti is an illegal, anti-social activity that can create a negative impression of an area and contribute to people's fear of crime.
If you would like to report incidents of graffiti on council property or street furniture, please contact us or use the Graffiti report form. Graffiti on private property is the responsibility of the owner. Should you have no luck with the owner, our Community and Environment Officers may be able to assist you, again, contact us.
Where evidence exists, the council's Community and Environment Officers may be able to prosecute those responsible for crimes such as graffiti using various pieces of legislation:
• The Antisocial Behaviour Act of 2003 (s43) enables authorised officers to serve FPNs to those responsible for graffiti or fly posting. It also permits officers to serve notice on owners/occupiers of land to remove graffiti.
• The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (s224) make it an offence to display an advertisement in contravention of local planning regulations.
• FPNs can be issued for the offence of criminal damage to property due to painting, writing, marking or etching etc through s1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
Graffiti on NTL boxes
Welwyn Hatfield Council have an annual agreement with NTL to remove graffiti from their boxes. Although this is technically an NTL responsibility, the Council will repaint NTL boxes for the duration of this agreement. To report graffiti on an NTL box, please contact us.