Graffiti fighting stocks popular
The Wellington City Council service centre has ran out of its graffiti removal-kit stock 15 times since the scheme was introduced at the start of the year. ?A lot of people get them while working in town, they fill out a form when they pick up the kits and it?s not just central city people picking them up. ?Its great people have taken responsibility for keeping the city clean,? says city safety officer Emma Titcombe. Feedback has suggested the scheme works well as a starting point for anyone concerned with graffiti in their community. ?People often don?t know where to start, and [the graffiti] can just be left there. ?Now they get the message of where to go and we can point them in the right direction,? she says. A graffiti ?flying squad?, established in 2007, will continue to paint out graffiti on residential properties where either the owners can?t do it themselves or the graffiti won?t come off with the spray provided in the kit. ?The need to better inform the community is working. ?It?s a three year campaign and we are looking to roll-out more community things with Resene next year,? says Miss Titcombe. Feedback about the schemes advertising campaign has sparked debate as to whether it glorifies graffiti, or shows it as a spreading menace. ?Feedback has shown some people think it looks cool, but it?s about the [graffiti] spreading if it?s not stopped.? The WCC has strategies in place to promote the ?right? kind of artistic graffiti and bombings. The City Arts team deals with requests for murals and public art, and legal graffiti fences are provided throughout the city. The graffiti kits, which contain graffiti removal spray, gloves, protective glasses, and vouchers for free paint test pots and discount on paints, are available in Karori, Johnsonville, Kilbirnie, Miramar and Tawa libraries and the City Service Centre. The Council wants people to report graffiti on council property (such as signage, playgrounds and buildings) by calling 499 4444. Anyone witnessing vandalism should call the police.
