What impact does graffiti have on a community?
Graffiti has been termed a “quality of life” crime and the impacts graffiti has on a community are numerous. Property values — Neighbourhoods containing graffiti are less appealing to those who may be looking to buy or rent property. Property becomes more difficult to sell and values are reduced. Retail sales — Graffiti can contribute to lost retail sales – people tend to feel less safe in areas with a lot of graffiti and are therefore less likely to shop in those areas. Public impact — Graffiti reduces enjoyment of public spaces such as parkland and civic areas. It also causes the area to look unsafe and makes people concerned about their personal safety. Impact on tourism — Tourists feel unsafe in areas where graffiti is abundant. Impact on business — Business owners feel victimized and frustrated when they discover their business premises have been tagged with graffiti. Graffiti breeds more graffiti — If graffiti is not removed promptly, the space invites more graffiti as the “tagge
