Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Graffiti Eradication Program is working to get rid of graffiti and keep our city beautiful. Working together we can eliminate graffiti from our buildings, fences, bridges, utility equipment and anywhere else it’s found.
This afternoon Mayor Pat Fiacco kicked off a community graffiti cleanup in the Core Area. The cleanup campaign will include the City of Regina, Regina Police Service, Core Community Association, Canada Post, SaskTel, SaskPower and SaskEnergy.
Mayor Fiacco said: “We need the cooperation of the community to eradicate graffiti. One of the problems is that graffiti can lead to more graffiti. If graffiti is allowed to remain in a neighbourhood, other taggers will add to the mess. The quicker it’s removed the less likely the taggers will be back.”
Bylaw changes last year gave the City of Regina and the Regina Police Service better resources to eradicate graffiti in our community. The City of Regina has stipulated that all graffiti on their buildings, equipment and structures will be removed within 72 hours of it being reported or discovered. If the graffiti is racist, sexist, pornographic or in poor taste, it will be removed within 24 hours.
You can report graffiti in your neighbourhood—on public or private property—by calling 777-7000.
The Regina Police Service has staff dedicated to the apprehension and prosecution of those creating graffiti. In the first six months of this year, they responded to 314 reports of graffiti. They laid 86 charges, 80 of which involved young offenders. The Police Service notes that 37% of the files worked on ended up with charges being laid.
In the first half of the year, Bylaw Enforcement visited 408 sites for inspections, resulting in 187 graffiti actions.
It’s believed that graffiti can lead to bigger crimes. Mayor Fiacco said: “Graffiti is vandalism. A minor crime like graffiti can lead young people into bigger and bigger crimes. As well, keeping a neighbourhood clean, attractive and healthy will significantly lower the crime rate.”
For more information, or to report graffiti, call 306-777-7000.
Media contact only:
Janice Solomon
Senior Social Development Consultant
Community & Cultural Development
306-777-7549
