auckland graffiti vandalism prevention plan july 2012 · vandalism across our region. this will be...

AUCKLAND GRAFFITI VANDALISM PREVENTION PLAN JULY 2012

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Auckland Graffiti Vandalism Plan February 2012

VISION

GRAFFITI VANDALISM DEFINITION

Graffiti vandalism is the act of a person damaging or defacing any building, structure, road, tree, property or other thing by writing, drawing, painting, spraying or etching on it, or otherwise marking it:

a. without lawful authority; and

b. without the consent of the occupier or owner or other person in lawful control1.

Graffiti vandalism is a crime associated with damaged civic pride, reduced perceptions of safety, increased criminal activity, a decline in property values and with perceived community instability2. Graffiti vandalism within a community can also be viewed as an “indicator” that more serious crimes are prevalent or have the potential to take place. The successful management of graffiti vandalism is essential for Auckland Council to achieve outcomes relating to enhancing community safety and wellbeing, including:

• positively influencing perceptions of safety within communities

• developing and enhancing community pride

• helping achieve the Mayor’s vison of Auckland as the “world’s most liveable city.

BACKGROUND/CONTEXT

In 2010/11 Auckland Council spent approximately $4.8m on graffiti vandalism and cleaned over 340,000 sites. Even though Council provides a good service3 the management of graffiti vandalism is an ongoing issue and residents and businesses continue to experience the disruption and cost it causes.

As the lead agency for the management of graffiti vandalism, Auckland Council has identified the need for a regional plan and an effective programme of delivery to guide Council. Auckland Council has inherited a number of different methodologies and service levels from the Auckland legacy councils, thus the plan accommodates a phased introduction of standardised services and performance levels.

The Auckland Graffiti Vandalism Plan (the Plan) builds on the work of the Auckland Region Graffiti Free Project (ARGF). ARGF preceded the formation of the Auckland Council and the project included representatives from the previous councils together with a range of stakeholders and other agencies. Prior to the establishment of the Auckland Council, ARGF reviewed graffiti management practice nationally and internationally and produced a report4 containing recommendations which have influenced the development of the Plan.

1 Ministry of Justice, STOP Strategy: A Strategy for Change.2 Nielsen Quality of Life Survey, 2010 showed 67% of participants raised graffiti vandalism as an issue in Auckland and Police Perceptions of Safety Survey, 2005 – graffiti vandalism identified as 4th largest issue in Auckland.3 Customer Service Survey, September 2011 average score across region 94.7%.4 Review and Recommendations Report, August 2010.

Front cover. Image courtesy of Greg Weston, Copybook Centre.

AUCKLAND COMMUNITIES AND VISITORS ENJOY A CITY FREE OF GRAFFITI VANDALISM.

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Following his appointment in 2010, one of Mayor Len Brown’s 100 priority projects was to establish an approach to graffiti vandalism for the whole of Auckland. In February 2011 the Community Safety Forum (the Forum) passed a resolution to develop the Plan and as a result the Auckland Graffiti Vandalism Project (the Project) was established.

During the development of the Plan, active participation was sought from existing Auckland Council graffiti vandalism service providers along with all relevant Council departments and Council controlled organisations. Local Boards were also engaged and an agenda report (together with a draft version of the Plan) was introduced to all 21 Local Boards within Auckland. Feedback received from the Local Board engagement process was incorporated within the Plan.

IN FEBRUARY 2012, THE PLAN WAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM, WHICH ENDORSED THE PLAN AND RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE PRESENTED TO THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE (RDOC) FOR APPROVAL. IN MARCH 2012 RDOC RECEIVED AND FORMALLY APPROVED THE PLAN.

Fergusson Oaks Park, Manurewa. Image courtesy of MBT

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PURPOSE

The purpose of this Plan is to:

Establish a single approach to graffiti vandalism for the whole of Auckland Council and enable the prevention, management and reduction of graffiti vandalism across our region.

This will be achieved by Auckland Council:

• fulfilling its leadership role in the prevention of graffiti vandalism

• establishing an integrated approach to addressing graffiti vandalism

• working collaboratively with a wide range of partners to coordinate action on the prevention, management and reduction of graffiti vandalism across the region

• gathering high quality service delivery information

• delivering customer service excellence.

BENEFITS

The anticipated benefits from the adoption and implementation of the plan include:

• Sustainable, significant and measurable reductions in graffiti vandalism across Auckland

• Improved quality of services that are cost effective and provide good value for Council’s investment

• Council and its partners working collaboratively and achieving beneficial graffiti vandalism outcomes

• Communities and visitors experiencing an environment where the negative impacts of graffiti vandalism do not exist or are significantly reduced. Positive impacts of the Plan can include:

- Enhanced civic pride

- Reduced criminal behaviour

- Increased property values

- Improved perceptions of safety

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT

The Auckland Graffiti Vandalism Plan complements a range of strategies, plans and statements, including:

• The Auckland Plan (Chapter 13)

- The rate of criminal offences per 10,000 population reduces from 939 per 10,000 in 2010 to 900 per 10,000 in 2040 and

- Perception of safety in the community, in the Quality of Life survey, increases from 49% in 2010 to 70% by 2040.

- Increase in the proportion of residents who consider the Auckland urban environment to be beautiful.

• Local Board Plans

• The Mayor’s vision for Auckland - “The most liveable city in the world”

Mural by Greenmeadows Intermediate - Churchill Ave Shops. Image courtesy of MBT

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PRINCIPLES

The following principles set out the intent of the Plan and guide how it will be implemented.

1. Leadership

Leading and championing the management and prevention of graffiti vandalism across Auckland.

• Delivering leadership via the Council and Local Board co-governance framework

• Championing partnerships to impact positively on graffiti vandalism eradication

• Allocating and aligning resources to maximise benefits.

2. Quality Service Delivery

Establishing quality service delivery definitions and measures for service providers.

• Service delivery measures and targets:

» Completing requests for service delivery received via the Council Call Centre within 24 hours

» Removing offensive graffiti vandalism within 2 hours of reporting

» Providing an eradication service that maximises resource availability across a 7 day week timeframe

» Delivering proactive services focusing on priority areas

» Recording and collating images (before and after service delivery) of all incidents of graffiti vandalism attended to

» Promoting the adoption of complementary service delivery measures and targets to external stakeholders

SERVICE MODEL

The Plan focuses on prevention and incorporates the “Three E’s” approach:

• Eradication

• Enforcement

• Education

A focus on prevention, together with the incorporation of eradication, enforcement and education activitiesprovidesasimpleandeffectiveservicemodeltoaddressgraffitivandalismthatisrecognisedbothnationally and internationally:

PREVENTION(FOCUS)

ENFORCEMENT(TARGETED)

ERADICATION(RAPID)

EDUCATION(EVIDENCE BASED)

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• Service providers:

» Aligning and managing service delivery contracts and agreements across the four Auckland Council Service Centre boundaries (Northern, Central, Western and Southern) and complementing the Local Board boundaries.

» Providing a high standard, efficient and cost effective service to the community

» Supporting a range of contractors and providers encompassing both commercial organisations and community based trusts

» Clear, consistent, meaningful and measurable performance delivery reporting

3. Customer Service

Providing customer service excellence in the delivery of graffiti vandalism services.

• Consistently providing a high standard of customer service to the Auckland community focusing on the prevention of graffiti vandalism

• Encouraging and supporting communities to proactively report instances of graffiti vandalism and enable timely eradication

• Providing and promoting opportunities for communities and volunteers to become involved in preventative programmes (eg Adopt a Spot)

• Utilising information technology (eg council websites) to communicate productively with communities.

• Involving, listening to and engaging communities in addressing graffiti vandalism

4. Service Model

Utilising a proven model to structure the approach to addressing graffiti vandalism.

• Prevention

» Preventing graffiti vandalism is prioritised

» Developing, supporting and implementing evidenced based prevention projects

» Incorporating Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles within policy, planning, projects and training delivery

» Applying problem solving methodology to the issue of graffiti vandalism

» Maximising the benefits from murals and other art works

» Recognising that combining rapid eradication, focused enforcement and effective education interventions offers enhanced preventative opportunities

• Eradication

» Service providers admirably representing Auckland Council when providing eradication services

» Delivering a rapid eradication and restoration service

» Standardising methodology, resources and supplies supporting consistency and economies of scale

» Establishing permission registers for private property/asset owners

» Considering new graffiti vandalism bylaw legislation

• Enforcement

» Proactively supporting the Police to ensure recidivist graffiti vandalism offenders and hot spot locations are targeted

» Intelligently utilising private investigation/internal resources to support the Police

» Communicating enforcement achievements to the community

» Applying existing legislation where appropriate (including ‘sale of spray cans’ restrictions)

» Seeking reparation from graffiti vandalism offenders

» Considering civil prosecutions on a case by case basis

• Education

» Applying an evidenced based approach to education and developing focused projects within the community:

* highlighting graffiti vandalism as a crime

* encouraging the reporting of offences and offenders

* promoting volunteer opportunities i.e. Adopt-a-spot

* Supporting junior and youth education initiatives

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5. Information Management

Utilising leading-edge information management technology.

• Developing an integrated database (and associated resources) supporting local and city-wide contract management, analysis and action

• Supporting customers, service providers and communities through effective data capture

• Taking advantage of up to date mobile technology

• Accommodating the involvement and needs of external stakeholders

6. Stakeholders

Working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders (including council departments, council controlled organisations, community groups and external organisations) to address graffiti vandalism.

• Developing a collaborative stakeholder framework enabling the coordinated management, prevention and reduction of graffiti vandalism across the region

• Encouraging a complementary approach to service delivery among the range of stakeholders

• Working with stakeholders to develop partnering opportunities

7. Evaluation

Implementing an evaluation framework to support the success of the Plan and ensure continual improvement.

• Completing visual audits annually.

• Commissioning perception of safety surveys

• Carrying out customer satisfaction audits

• Reporting annually to Council on the progress of the Plan

• Comprehensively evaluating the Plan within 5 years of initiation.

Potters Park, Mt Eden. Image courtesy of ACC.

For more information: ph 09 301 0101 www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

auckland graffiti vandalism prevention plan july 2012 · vandalism across our region. this will be...

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