GRAFFITI DAMAGE

Jamie O'Neil looks at the causes of and possible solutions to Haringey's graffiti problem:
Graffito n. (pl. Graffiti) (usu. in pl.) a piece of writing or drawing scribbled, scratched or sprayed on a surface.

Graffiti in Haringey are a big problem. In Hornsey you find loads in Priory Park and Bowlers and Holley Park Estate. In Wood Green the graffiti problem is bad around the Shopping City area and in Tottenham near train stations and the big housing estates.
Generally graffiti happen behind buildings and in alley ways - somewhere quiet where the graffiti 'artist' won't get caught  
Mainly boys, aged between 11 to 20 do graffiti. 
Girls tend not to do as much. I think it's because they don't  like getting dirty and getting paint on their clothes.
Kids use spray cans usually stolen from car accessory shops like Halfords.
They like to use loads of colours not just one. Red, black, white, green, blue. The more colours the better as it makes their designs look more artistic.
PERSONAL TAGS
The graffiti artists design their own personal 'tag', which can consist of pictures, lettering or both.
They reproduce their tag all over the place. With practice you can get to be a very creative graffiti artist.
But although a lot of young people admire the work and don't consider it as vandalism older people get very annoyed that graffiti spoils the environment and defaces private property.
HEAVY FINES
You can get fined quite heavily for graffiti damage.
A friend of mine had to pay £1000 for defacing buildings. The police caught him in the act and found his tag all over the place. He was really upset and his parent told him off badly. His parents had to pay the fine and they got it out of his pocket money.  The fine hasn't stopped him though. He's obsessed with it and feels he has nothing better to do.
BOREDOM AND FRUSTRATION
A lot of young people get bored and frustrated. They turn to graffiti for something to do and to get noticed.  We need more activities for young people after school and at weekends. We need things like  more football and basketball pitches, tennis courts, etc. to keep us occupied.  Perhaps if we opened up special art clubs,  where young  people could come and do their graffiti on special walls, it would help the problem.

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