Graffiti Removal
Reporting Graffiti to Us
All graffiti should be reported to the Graffiti Hotline on the number below, except for graffiti on Council Housing property, which should be reported to the separate number listed:
Graffiti Hotline: 0208 547 5560
Graffiti on Council Housing Property: 0208 547 5929
Email: graffiti@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Online: Complete our online Form
Messages can be left on the Graffiti Hotline 24 hours a day. If no one is available to answer your call, please leave your contact details and as much information as possible so that the Graffiti Officer can telephone you back if necessary.
Abusive, Obscene and Racist Graffiti
We endeavour to remove all abusive, obscene and racist graffiti within one working day.
Reporting Graffiti to the Police
Kingston Police: 0208 541 1212
If you are a victim of graffiti that has resulted in damage to your own residential or business property, please report the crime to Kingston Police. However, if you see an incidence of graffiti occurring, you should report this to the Police on 999 at the time.
Graffiti is a crime that affects the whole community. Kingston Council works closely with the Police and other partners to identify and deal with those engaged in criminal damage and graffiti in the borough.
Graffiti Removal – Residential Property
- Graffiti is a community problem. Residents are requested to remove or paint out graffiti wherever possible from their own property.
- The quicker graffiti is cleaned off, the easier it is to remove.
- Advice on removing graffiti and on anti-graffiti measures can be obtained by telephoning the Graffiti Hotline.
- If you are unable to remove the graffiti yourselves, the Council will remove the graffiti for you if the graffiti faces the public highway, subject to health and safety considerations. We will need to obtain your permission prior to removing graffiti from your property.
- Graffiti on brickwork and fencing will usually be removed by chemicals, followed by hot pressure washing. When graffiti is on a painted surface, only the area of graffiti will be painted over. Please note that we are unable to remove graffiti from service roads or areas not within the view of a main road.
Graffiti Removal – Business Premises
- Businesses and shops are responsible for removing the graffiti from their own property. Please telephone the Graffiti Hotline for advice and details of specialist companies that offer graffiti removal.
- Graffiti removal products are available from local stockists. The manufacturer’s instructions and safety instructions should be noted carefully before use and the product should first be tested on a small area. If in any doubt, advice from specialist graffiti removal companies should be sought.
Prevention and Anti-Graffiti Measures
- The quicker and more frequently graffiti is removed, the less likely vandals are to strike again.
- Keep a small tin of matching coloured paint to hand to paint out graffiti on painted surfaces.
- Planting shrubs or growing climbers up walls and fences, where suitable, will help to discourage graffiti.
- Consider using anti-graffiti coatings – further information is available from the Graffiti Hotline.