Welcome

Graffiti is a sign of the times. It exists not just in Bedford, or in the UK but in cities across the modern world. The activity of mostly young people, graffiti can take the form of spray paint signs, code names scratched into iron work and even pre-prepared stickers with individual slogans.

Chris Barker Project Manager with the BedfordBID has become something of an expert: “Little graffiti is social commentary or modern art like the now famous Banksy, it is mostly name tagging, a nickname saying ‘I was here’.

“Bedford town centre, like most urban areas, suffers from graffiti most of which is carried out by a small number of taggers who cause a considerable amount of damage and distress to property owners.

“BedfordBID decided to take a strategic approach to curing the problem which covers everything from prevention, persuasion and prosecution. Using intelligence about this form of criminal damage and good documentation we hope to at least reduce the impact of graffiti on the environment.”

Prevention - BedfordBID is looking at using anti-graffiti culprit paint. Strategically used in high or hard to reach places favoured by taggers, the paint will retain fingerprints and rub off on the clothes of those clambering to rooftops. “If their expensive trainers are ruined by this paint they may think twice about high level tagging. It will not be used in place were shoppers may come into contact,” explains Chris.

Persuasion - Chris has personally spoken to a number of taggers asking the question to which all graffiti victims would like an answer: Why?

“It’s the usual thing boredom, getting themselves noticed, nothing else to do. We and the police have tried to counsel some of them with the idea that whilst they contribute to making Bedford an unattractive place to look at no one is going to want to spend any money on activities for young people.

“We are also going to try and appeal to their artistic pretensions and in partnership with local organisations are looking into staging some sort of art competition - so their design skills can be channelled. If they like art so much why not sign up for a graphic design skills course at college?”

Prosecution - BedfordBID Bluecaps have photographed all old and new graffiti which is then posted on to database which police can use as an example of other offences when taggers are caught. ”Because a tag is their signature they are effectively signing their own arrest warrant - so when they are prosecuted a whole list of examples can be put before the court. Recently four arrests were made and in one individual had tagged more than 250 times.”

Clean Up Campaign - Bedford Borough Council is working with the BedfordBID, Beds Police and the Crime and Disorder Partnership running clean up schemes across the borough. As part of this BedfordBID supplies details of the offending tags and the council sends its special graffiti clean up team to remove the marks. Bedford Borough Council also logs details of all the tags reported and where they were located to help identify and track down local taggers as part of the Crime and Disorder Partnership.

“All this work needs to be done to keep our town looking clean and tag free,” added Chris

Help us keep your streets clean - If anyone has information about taggers or graffiti painters they can contact the Beds Police Town Centre Unit on 01234 275051, or outside the shopping centre your local beat officer who can be reached via the switchboard on 01234 841212.

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