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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. Vandalism and graffiti are often "gateway" crimes that, if left unaddressed, can lead to a decline in neighbourhood pride and an increase in more serious criminal activity. Prevention focuses on rapid response and making targets less attractive.
1. Property Design and "Target Hardening"
- Improve Lighting: Vandalism thrives in the dark. Install motion-sensor lights or high-intensity LED lighting around entrances, alleys, and dark corners to eliminate hiding spots.
- Use Protective Coatings: Apply anti-graffiti coatings to walls and fences. These coatings make it difficult for paint to bond to the surface, allowing for much easier and cheaper removal.
- Strategic Landscaping: Use "defensive planting"—such as thorny bushes or thick hedges—in front of large blank walls. This creates a physical barrier that makes it difficult for vandals to reach the surface.
- Secure Perimeter: Ensure that gates are locked, and fences are in good repair. Use materials like mesh or palisade fencing that are harder to spray-paint than solid wood or concrete.
2. The "Broken Windows" Strategy
- Rapid Removal: The most effective deterrent is to remove graffiti or repair damage within 24 to 48 hours. Vandals want their "work" to be seen; if it is removed immediately, they lose the incentive to return to that location.
- Keep It Clean: A well-maintained property sends a signal that the area is active and monitored. Pick up litter and repair minor damage immediately to show that the community "cares" and is watching.
3. Community-Based Prevention
- Murals and Public Art: Ironically, one of the best ways to stop illegal graffiti is to commission a professional mural. Taggers often respect the work of other artists and are less likely to deface a high-quality piece of art.
- Neighbourhood Reporting: Encourage residents to report vandals through non-emergency police lines or community apps. Even if an arrest isn't made immediately, it helps police identify "hotspots" for increased patrols.
- Youth Engagement: Provide legal outlets for street art, such as designated "free walls" or community art programs, to redirect creative energy away from illegal property damage.
4. Surveillance and Deterrence
- Visible CCTV: Install visible security cameras. Even the presence of a camera (or signs stating "CCTV in Operation") can be enough to deter a person from committing an act of vandalism.
- Signage: Use clear signage indicating that the property is monitored, and that the owner will prosecute any acts of vandalism.
 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. | 
