Graffiti and the Law

When it comes to Graffiti there are laws. Consequences do occur if graffiti is caught being done illegally. The laws on public property are very strict and anyone caught doing graffiti can be arrested and prosecuted under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Offenders can be fined up to £5,000 if the damage caused is less than £5,000 or they may be given a community service order instead of a fine. Also the Anti-Social Behavior Act 2003 introduced new powers for local councils to punish offenders and to help them clear up illegal graffiti. This includes on-the-spot fines of £50 to anyone caught doing graffiti on public property. Police officers, support officers or local authority officials can give them out. Moreover, police have the right to search you if they suspect that you are carrying something that can be used to make graffiti. They can only do this if they suspect you are 14 years or older. Police may also search your car or anything you are carrying. Additionally, The Criminal Record can state that illegal graffiti was done. From this a citizen’s future can be stopped. If a student was applying for university, the criminal offense would show and refuse that particular student from going the university. Maybe even getting a job, applying for field trip helpers at school, etc, could all be prevented just because they did illegal graffiti.

Also, the graffiti writer doesn’t pay for the cost of fixing the graffiti damage but rather the value of the entire building or property. Moreover, graffiti writers under the age of 18 will be encountered with the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This act describes a number of alternate ways to be taken with minor offenses and also first time offenders. The Parental Responsibility Act states that it is financially the parents responsibility for the property loss, damage or destruction, that was created by their children (under the age of 18).In addition, consequences range from marking graffiti or marketing offensive graffiti which is a two year jail penalty, possessing a prescribed graffiti tools in a banned place and attempting to make graffiti is equal to 25 penalty units, and advertising graffiti tools in a way that encourages unlawful graffiti is equal to 50 penalty units. A penalty unit is worth $116.82 since July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Therefore, doing graffiti illegally can lead to very harsh punishments.