Graffiti
What is graffiti?
Graffiti is writing or drawings on walls or other surfaces, usually done without permission. It can be tags, pictures, or words.
Who cleans it up?
Council Property:
If the graffiti is on things the council owns (like street signs, bins, car parks, or council buildings), the council will clean it up.
Rude or offensive graffiti gets cleaned up first. Sometimes it’s hard to remove completely, and a shadow might be left behind.
Private Property:
If graffiti is on someone’s house or business, the council won’t clean it unless the owner asks.
The council can give advice or help removing it, but it might cost money depending on how big it is and what it’s painted on.
How to report graffiti
Make sure to say;
- where it is, and
- what kind it is (tag, word, or picture).
Graffiti in other public locations
If graffiti is on other public locations, not owned by the council, you need to tell the right company. Here’s who to contact:
| Property | Contact |
|---|---|
| Street lighting, bridges, underpasses, road signs and roads | Report to Hertfordshire County Council Tel: 0300 123 4047 |
| Virgin Media street cabinets | Tel: 0330 333 0444 or email nam@virginmedia.co.uk |
| BT / Open Reach street cabinets | Damage, Health and Safety where you can use their online assistant Eiva which you will find in the bottom right hand corner of the page or Tel: 0800 023 2023 (option 1) |
| BT Payphone Red boxes | Tel: 0800 661610 |
| Bus stop damage helpline | Tel: 0800 590889 |
| Railway Structures | Network Rail Tel: 03457 11 41 41 |
| UK Power Networks (electricity) | Contact | UK Power Networks Services Tel: 0800 029 4285 |