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Graffiti

To report graffiti on council property please fill in the graffiti reporting form including your contact details if you would like a response, or call 01883 722000.

The Council does not remove graffiti from private buildings or privately owned fences or walls. The removal of graffiti from these is the responsibility of the property owner. The Council recognises graffiti has a negative impact on the environment, is illegal and is the most common type of property vandalism contributing to people's fear of crime. It also costs thousands of pounds a year to remove from Council property.

How we fight graffiti

• We employ specialist contractors to remove all graffiti from our own property.
• We work closely with Surrey Police who maintain a database of "tags".
• We use mobile surveillance at known graffiti hot spots.
• We organise graffiti-removal community clean up days.
• We actively encourage public utility companies to remove graffiti from their own equipment
• We loan out graffiti kits free of charge. Call 01883 732785.
• We aim to remove non-offensive graffiti from Tandridge District Council property within 28 working days of any sighting or report, and 24 hours for offensive graffiti sightings or reports.
• We rely on the public to report many instances of graffiti and have a freephone automated answering service on 0800 068 2070 for residents who have information about graffiti vandals. You could get a reward of up to £500 for information leading to a successful prosecution.
• We now provide graffiti removal kits to parish or village councils so that volunteers may now take more control of graffiti in their local areas.
• The street cleaning team for Caterham Valley, Caterham on the Hill, Oxted and the district-wide recycling bank sites have graffiti removal kits to remove small tagging in their areas. This will be extended to Whyteleafe and Lingfield.

Graffiti on private property

We do not usually remove graffiti from private property, but there are things you can do if you are a victim of graffiti.

• Report it to Surrey Police. Graffiti is criminal damage and we work with the police and help them prosecute people who graffiti.
• You should remove it as quickly as possible because it attracts further graffiti to the surface if it is left.
• You can sometimes use detergent and a scouring brush to scrub off graffiti on non-porous surfaces covered with masonry paint, gloss paint or tiles. Traces may be left but should fade with time.
• If you can't remove the graffiti you may have to try specialist techniques and materials. We can advise you on different methods and also provide contact details of specialist graffiti removal companies. We may also be able to loan you a graffiti removal kit free of charge.
• Paint areas prone to graffiti with a special coating which makes it easier to remove.
• You can defend a vulnerable wall or fence by planting some fast-growing Ivy or a prickly hedge. Use trellis to cover the area while the plants are growing.

Graffiti on public utility furniture

In most cases we cannot remove graffiti from non-council property such as post boxes, bus shelters, junction boxes, telegraph poles etc. Please use the below table to contact the relevant companies directly.

Frequently asked questions.

For further information please contact Amenity Services on 01883 722000 or e-mail amenityservices@tandridge.gov.uk.
You can also call the 24 hour automated telephone information service on 08459 400 472.

Or write to us at:
Tandridge District Council
8 Station Road East
Oxted RH8 0BT

Maps and directions to our offices.

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