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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. Protect Our Community • Respect Our Environment • Take Pride in Where You Live
🛑 Vandalism Damages More Than Property
Every broken window, smashed bin, ripped-up bench, or ruined playground affects the people who use and care for that space.
Vandalism makes neighbourhoods look neglected, unsafe, and unwelcoming, and it can make residents feel anxious or disheartened.
When an area looks uncared for, further antisocial behaviour becomes more likely.
A single act of damage can start a chain reaction that harms the whole community.
🎨 Illegal Graffiti Is Not Harmless, It Comes at a Cost
While artwork created legally can brighten public spaces, unauthorised graffiti is criminal damage.
It often ends up on shop fronts, bus shelters, trains, playgrounds, private homes, and community buildings, places people rely on every day.
Cleaning it costs councils, transport services, and businesses thousands of pounds each year, money that could be spent on:
- Improving youth facilities
- Upgrading parks and sports areas
- Supporting local services
- Enhancing community safety
Illegal graffiti takes resources away from the very places young people depend on.
🏙️ A Clean, Safe Environment Benefits Everyone
Neighbourhoods that are well-maintained are places where people feel confident, welcomed, and comfortable spending time.
Clean public spaces invite families, support local businesses, and strengthen community pride.
When we look after our surroundings, we build:
- Safer streets
- Stronger communities
- More opportunities for positive activities
- A sense of belonging and respect
Taking care of public spaces encourages others to do the same.
👀 If You See Damage, Speak Up and Report It
You have the power to make a difference.
Reporting graffiti or vandalism helps get it removed quickly and prevents small issues from becoming bigger ones.
Report to:
- Your local council
- Neighbourhood wardens
- School staff
- Police (for serious or repeated damage)
Your action helps protect the places you value.
🤝 Respect Shared Spaces • Show Community Pride
Public spaces belong to all of us, parks, streets, bus stations, schools, community centres, and playgrounds.
When even one person chooses to damage them, everyone loses out.
Show respect by:
- Leaving spaces clean
- Using bins
- Reporting damage
- Encouraging others to take pride in the community
- Creating art only in legal, approved areas
Respecting shared spaces shows respect for the people who use them.
🌟 Choose Respect. Choose Responsibility. Choose Community Pride.
Together, we can keep our neighbourhoods clean, safe, and welcoming.
KEEP IT CLEAN. KEEP IT SAFE. KEEP IT OURS.
 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. | 
