Graffiti as an Environmental Crime - Essay Example

? Graffiti 27-11-11 Graffiti Introduction: Many consider graffiti as an art while others ify it as vandalism or degradation of environment. Graffiti is a broad term and encompasses all inscriptions or drawings produced hastily by using spray cans on a wall or other surface. Graffiti is also defined as a composition of pictures or words sprayed on a wall. The word graffiti is derived from an Italian word “groffitia” meaning “scribbling” or “inscriptions made on wax tablets using a stylus”. Graffiti has been used since prehistoric times to preserve or record signifying an individual’s existence by scribbling or scratching on an enduring medium. A study of history of graffiti reveals that from Neolithic period onwards, it was a common practice for nomads to leave marks in the form of scratches or inscriptions on rocks, signifying survival and success. During the Age of Enlightenment, graffiti was used by French prisoners to express their thoughts on the imminent rebellion. Moreover, during the golden age of French literature, many famous French authors mentioned graffiti in their work. Brassai, a French photographer, produced a famous photograph essay on graffiti in 1933. Graffiti was used as a weapon by the Nazis during the Second World War. Throughout the War, Nazis scribbled hate filled words and phrases against the enemies of the Third Reich on the walls of urban buildings. Graffiti was extensively used by students and labors throughout Europe during the unrest of 1960s and 1970s. (PEREIRA, S. 2005). Graffiti is of many types. Some of the important ones are as follows: i. Gang graffiti: The graffiti used by gangs to mark their territories and to convey threats to their opponents or trespassers. ii. Tagger graffiti: This type of graffiti is composed of either high volume simple hits or highly complicated art which is inscribed on streets. iii. Conventional graffiti: Conventional graffiti is almost always associated with “youthful experience” and is mostly isolated. In addition, conventional graffiti is often spontaneous and therefore it is not associated with other crimes and disorders. iv. Ideological graffiti: Ideological graffiti is also known as hate or political graffiti and serves as a means of conveying political, racial, religious or ethnic messages. Factors associated with Graffiti: Many individuals associate the presence of graffiti with government’s failure to ensure safety of citizens and punish lawbreakers. Excruciating amounts of money are utilized by the government to remove graffiti each year. In the United States of America, approximately $12 billion are spent each year to clear graffiti. The problem of graffiti is not an isolated one and is therefore associated with other environmental crimes and disorders. (HAGAN, F. E. 2008). In most cases the following disorders are often associated with graffiti: i. Public disorders: As stated earlier, Graffiti is not an isolated problem, it is rather a problem associated with various other crimes and disorders. One such disorder is public disorder which includes loitering, littering and urination in public areas. ii. Shoplifting: Shoplifting of materials used in graffiti is a common crime in areas where graffiti is widespread. iii. Gang violence: Gangs commonly use gang graffiti to convey threats of violence in order to mark their territories and threaten citizens. iv. Property destruction: Graffiti is often related to the destruction of property such as broken windows and slashed train and bus seats. (HAGAN, F. E. 2008). Envirocrime and Graffiti: Envirocrime is a broad term and encompasses a wide variety of disorders such as littering, fly posting, fly tipping and graffiti. Envirocrimes affects the whole community and renders the attractiveness of local environment. The effects of envirocrimes on a community are devastating and such crimes not only reduce the quality of life but also lower tourist attraction. Graffiti is applied and streets are littered by a small number of individuals but such activities affect all the individuals living in a community. Accumulated litter and extensively applied graffiti affects the regeneration and neighborhood renewal programs by increasing the amount of revenue needed. Over the past few years, Sheffield county council has observed a changing trend in graffiti and other envirocrimes. (Environmental crime 2004). Despite strict enforcement policies, such crimes are becoming increasingly violent then ever before. Therefore, public dissatisfaction relating to the removal of graffiti and cleaning of streets has also increased. (HARBOURI, P.1998). In Southampton, a strict enforcement policy is followed and anyone seen committing envirocrimes is issued a ?75 penalty. London authorities believe in the Six E’s strategy when it comes to handling envirocrimes. The six Es strategy is quite efficient as it focuses attention and resources on specific target areas. The strategy is based on six principles: effectiveness, efficiency, enforcement, engagement, education and evaluation. The first principle of the strategy is to concentrate attention and revenue on areas that need it the most. Once, such areas have identified, the next step is to deal with the problems. Thus, the problems of graffiti or littering or a combination of various envirocrimes along with the people that are involved in committing such crimes are tackled. The next step is to promote awareness among local individuals by introducing Environmental Education packages in schools and colleges along with initiating Anti-Litter campaigns. The last step is to evaluate the effectiveness of the authorities in eradicating envirocrimes by determining the level of public satisfaction. (Environmental crime 2004). Geographical spread of Graffiti in London: Graffiti appeared on London streets soon after the hip hop culture originated and prevailed in New York. Over the years, London streets have transformed into a perfect canvas to be used by writers and artists to imprint their thoughts and emotions on. The major locations of graffiti in London are South Bank, Mile End, Old Street and Stockwell. The east end of London is littered with both legal and illegal graffiti. Albo, Dscreet and Sickboy graffiti populate certain specific locations including Brick Lane, Hackney and Bethnal Green. In addition, some of the most beautiful graffiti can be viewed on the area extending from the Old Street tube station to the Charlotte Road. Moreover, some of the most striking graffiti masterpieces can be viewed on popular streets such as Rivington and Batman’s Row. Furthermore, beautiful pieces of graffiti are also littered across the streets and buildings of Central London, North London and Exmouth Market. In addition, some of the most striking stenciled pieces of graffiti can be viewed on Leake Street. (BULL, M., & BANKSY. 2009). Graffiti and Geographical Information System: Geographical Information System or GIS is a tracking system developed by authorities from Southern California. The system is not only capable of tracking down graffiti producing vandals but it also evaluates the amount of money needed to remove graffiti from a city. Therefore, GIS enables the authorities to identify and prosecute lawbreakers and draw up estimates of revenue needed to remove graffiti off from street walls and urban buildings. GIS works by storing graffiti images on a database and interconnecting them with previously added images in order to identify the creator by recognizing specific monikers. GIS analyses are also employed by local police to identify the different trends in tagging. The information is then used to track and crack down gangs involved in producing graffiti. Taggers almost always prove to be highly informative and convey crucial details about the affiliated gang. Therefore, through GIS analysis, the police are not only able to prosecute vandals but also to prevent them from committing more envirocrimes. (WEISEL, D. L. 2006). Conclusion: Despite the enforcement of strict policies and the development of advanced tracking systems such as Geographical Information System and Graffiti Abatement Tool, graffiti still remains one of the most committed envirocrimes. Graffiti like sky invaders continue to reappear on famous London buildings despite repeated government attempts to remove them. Through Graffiti, gang writers and artists pollute visual environment by using streets as their canvases to relieve pent up anger and frustration against the government or economical issues. Graffiti is associated with a wide variety of other crimes. Therefore, government officials need to realize the importance of elevating problems related to graffiti in an effort to effectively control vandals from committing envirocrimes. The removal of graffiti requires huge amounts of money and the chemicals used are not only expensive but are highly corrosive as well. A crucial problem associated with the removal of graffiti from limestone walls is etching. The problem of etching is commonly faced when graffiti is abrasively removed due to which the paint becomes permanently etched into the wall. (REISNER, R. G.1967). Government officials need to realize that in order to effective eradicate the environmental blight they need to act to eradicate both external and internal factors that force an individual to use streets as his canvas. Therefore, government officials need not only concentrate on tracking and prosecuting vandals involved in producing graffiti but the government needs to make an effort to identify and remove the factors that are associated with graffiti. On the other hand, gang activities have accelerated over the past few years which have proved to be another reason why graffiti continues to plague and reduce the attractiveness of buildings and streets around the world. (WEISEL, D. L. 2006). References: PEREIRA, S. (2005). Graffiti. Paris, Fitway. HAGAN, F. E. (2008). Introduction to criminology: theories, methods, and criminal behavior. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications. HOUSE OF COMMONS ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT COMMITTEE. (2004). Environmental crime: fly-tipping, fly-posting, litter, graffiti and noise. London, Authority of the House of Commons. WEISEL, D. L. (2006). Graffiti. Washington, D.C., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. HARBOURI, P. (1998). Graffiti. New York, Bloomsbury. REISNER, R. G. (1967). Graffiti. New York, Parallax Pub. Co. BULL, M., & BANKSY. (2009). Banksy locations and tours. Oakland, Calif, PM Press. Read More