What is Graffiti & Why is it an Issue?

Graffiti artists who produce artistic, top-quality, Banksy-worthy art are few and far between. Often street graffiti looks ugly and can have detrimental effects on the local society. Graffiti often brings down the value of local houses and properties.

Graffiti writing is often the background to a hive of criminal activity in an urban area & cities. It can cause a wide range of issues for local police who see graffiti as more than just writing.

While a Banksy might be allowed to stay, everything else needs to be dealt with quickly. At the Busters Group, the environmental services experts, we specialise in the removal of graffiti damage. Visit our commercial Graffiti removal page for further information.

Different Forms Of Graffiti

There are many different forms of graffiti produced for several reasons. Graffiti can have an in-your-face political message that can often be upsetting to people within the local area. It may be that the graffiti displays violence, vulgarity, or swear words that can offend people.

Graffiti can often be used to advertise criminal products or illegal substances. All of these things contribute to an unhappy society and unsettled communities, subjected to vandalism and the crimes often associated with it, such as gang culture, violence, alcohol and substance abuse, broken windows, car thefts, and muggings.

Factors Contributing to Graffiti

When we can understand the factors that contribute to graffiti, we can analyse preventative measures to determine appropriate responses as a society. The trouble is that the reason one person sprays graffiti could be a world away as to why another person is also doing it.

Below we look into the different, stereotypical graffiti artists, their motives, and the messages they're trying to express.

What are the Major Types of Graffiti?

There are several types of graffiti, and these are:

Gang graffiti

Tags, tagging, making a mark - gang graffiti is a form of expression to either identify a particular gang or person within a gang, mark territory, boast of gang achievements, or in response to a rival gang. Often gang graffiti will include; a gang name or gang symbol, gang member's names or nicknames, gang numbers, gang locations or names, and symbols to represent rival gangs.

Taggers

Often an act of defiance and primarily from younger offenders, taggers will create graffiti tags in high-volume, hard-to-reach surfaces. They may repeat their tags in several different locations to express their defiance of authority. Often this graffiti artist will work alone and maybe not even disclose their act to anyone else.

Artistic Taggers

The artistic tagger will often create displays of public art in a public space that is colourful, bright and shows a lot of talent. They can draw complex pictures known as pieces or masterpieces and are often without agendas, political messages, or backstory. Although still vandalism, artistic taggers don't tend to get anything more from the public than a smile.

Malicious or Vindictive Sprayer

Often just a word or simple sentence, this form of graffiti can upset the community, government, and most people within a society. This form of graffiti is often done to private property through boredom or express anger due to personal failure, inner-upset, or self-torment.

Ideological Offender

This type of vandalism will be done to specific targets, such as private mosques or synagogues, and have ethical, religious, or racial slurs intended to upset or provoke.

What is the Most Common Type of Graffiti?

In locations that are heavily gang populated, such as inner cities or urban locations, gang street art graffiti and tagger graffiti are the most common type of graffiti. Other types of graffiti may be spotted too, but they typically wouldn't be as widespread.

Graffiti Removal Service

At The Busters Group, we specialise in the removal of graffiti. If you have graffiti on your premises that needs removing, contact our team today on 0800 056 4343.

Next Article to read: Why is recycling important?