Here’s 10 helpful tips to minimise the risks of graffiti. Prevention is a key component to long term success against graffiti. For more information refer to the The Stop Strategy Guide and Stop Graffiti Guide below.

1. Quick removal – The best prevention is the quick removal of tags or graffiti. The primary goal of graffiti vandals is for their “work” to be seen. If graffiti is removed quickly, there’s less payoff for the risk and work involved.  If you see graffiti in the west remove it or Report it to Tag Out immediately or the Auckland Call Centre.

2. Make your property less inviting for Tagging – Install motion-sensing lights and remove bushes that could conceal graffiti vandalism in progress, thereby making your property less appealing.

3. Access and plantings – Repair broken fences and remove any objects that could make it easy to gain entry to your property. Plant low, dense, thorny bushes around walls to make it difficult to get in close enough to tag. Plant ivy or other wall-climbing plants to make the “blank canvas” of your wall less appealing. Plant to screen the fence.

4. Adopt-A-Spot – Join the adopt-a-spot programme  and keep  a  location graffiti free.

5. Anti-graffiti coatings – Applying anti-graffiti coatings to make removal easier and the wall less appealing to vandals.

6. Identify and report – Report any individuals you feel may be involved in graffiti vandalism to local police and Tag Out Trust.

7. Murals – Multi-colours designs or murals on surfaces will discourage graffiti, especially when they involve local artists and high school students. Community involvement is key to success as it promotes ownership of the space.

8. Community involvement –  Join, start or attend meetings of neighbour watch or neighbour patrol groups.

9. Quality painting – Repaint the entire wall, or paint up to 7 feet high (making a straight line across the top) with a colour that matches the wall. This leaves no trace of graffiti and does not draw the attention of the vandals. Square patching often attract taggers back as a challenge to re-tag the same spot.

10. Parents – if you suspect your son or daughter might be involved in graffiti vandalism contact Tag Out to discuss ways to kerb the behaviour without involving the police.