Council rules graffiti "not offensive enough" to remove, What is and what isnt "too offensive"? Options

[Bloggo]

What with?

An injection, two of sand and one of cement.

[Jayjay]

According to the person who reported it, it was a fairly prominent image





We are the eyes and ears of the public in certain situations but we rely on you guys to come to us with stuff like this too, a picture would have been helpful obviously but I was only informed of it the day it was cleared up.
Which leads me to my next question, what is the situation like in your area? If graffiti appears does it get cleared up fairly quickly? Do you have any examples of "offensive" graffiti near you? If so take a pic and send it to me mark.taylor@newburynews.co.uk

Just take a walk round town. Sainsbury underpass, Robin Hood underpass, Burger King underpass graffiti has been there well over 12 months. In the Bus Station there is not an inch of glass you can see through and most of the timetables have been defaced.

[user23]

This is a great example of an opportunity to utilize the untapped labour of those relctant to work in the area.
Before collecting their benefits they could be asked to help clean up the town.
But no , it would violate their human right to be bone idle.

Not sure if that would be entirely legal, forcing people to do a particular job. We used to do it 200 years ago, it was called slavery then and we still do it now but only to those who have committed a crime. As far as I know not working isn't a crime, yet.

The truth is it's everyone in the community's "job" to take pride in their surroundings and if no one has bothered to clean this up after two years then it's probably not that much of a problem. As I said previously I can see tasks like this being handed to volunteer neighbourhood action groups to save government a few pennies in the near future.

[Bloggo]

Not sure if that would be entirely legal, forcing people to do a particular job. We used to do it 200 years ago, it was called slavery then and we still do it now but only to those who have committed a crime. As far as I know not working isn't a crime, yet.

The truth is it's everyone in the community's "job" to take pride in their surroundings and if no one has bothered to clean this up after two years then it's probably not that much of a problem. As I said previously I can see tasks like this being handed to volunteer neighbourhood action groups to save government a few pennies in the near future.

Yes, my post was a little "tongue in cheek".

[JeffG]

Yes, my post was a little "tongue in cheek".

Even so, I think it's called workfare, where people who are physically able are asked to take part in community projects in return for their benefit. If they decline, they don't get the benefit.

Can't see much of a problem with that.

Ah, here we are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workfare

[Iommi]

Not sure if that would be entirely legal, forcing people to do a particular job. We used to do it 200 years ago, it was called slavery then and we still do it now but only to those who have committed a crime. As far as I know not working isn't a crime, yet.

Crims have to do the work, 'for free'. Slavery was something people had not choice in. Work for benefit, would provide a choice.

The truth is it's everyone in the community's "job" to take pride in their surroundings and if no one has bothered to clean this up after two years then it's probably not that much of a problem. As I said previously I can see tasks like this being handed to volunteer neighbourhood action groups to save government a few pennies in the near future.

Cleaning some of this graffiti takes specialist equipment . At the end of the day, we pay council tax for this to be cleaned. If the council can't or won't, then doing it ourselves should provide a discount. Or taking recent austere measures into account, help off set the effect of the government's reduced funding.

[dannyboy]

It is not the responsibility of the citizen to clean up after yobs. That is down to the council. Also; if such graffiti is found and reported then it is the duty of the police to find out who the culprits are and act; i.e. make them either clean it up, or get them or their parents to pay for the cleanup.

What good would it have done if such a person had cleaned it up? Another yob would come along and do the same. Then what?

You are wrong. Apathy breeds contempt.

[dannyboy]

Just take a walk round town. Sainsbury underpass, Robin Hood underpass, Burger King underpass graffiti has been there well over 12 months. In the Bus Station there is not an inch of glass you can see through and most of the timetables have been defaced.

It isn't glass, but plastic. Plastic does not weather well.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

You are wrong. Apathy breeds contempt.

To be honest I am more worried abouth physical attacks on people and the fact that a lot of young people today don't have any pride in working and expect everything to be handed to them.

I have a couple who live close to me. They are nice people. Don't get me wrong. They believe it is there right not too work and it is a 'lifestyle choice'. I did ask them what they would do if everyone had this attitude to which they replied 'people are really stupid for working'.

[JeffG]

If they want to make that lifestyle choice, and have private means, that's fine by me. As long as they are not receiving any benefits.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

If they want to make that lifestyle choice, and have private means, that's fine by me. As long as they are not receiving any benefits.

I don't know the answer to that question to be honest. I have never asked them. It's not the sort of thing I'd drop into a conversation. For all I know perhaps they are Millionaires! (But I doubt it somehow...)

[JeffG]

TDH (to neighbour): "Gosh, lucky you - I wish I had the means not to have to work..."

[Iommi]

It could be worse, just imagine that all these 'workshys' suddenly got their act together and made themselves capable to do our jobs - for less money!

[dannyboy]

To be honest I am more worried abouth physical attacks on people and the fact that a lot of young people today don't have any pride in working and expect everything to be handed to them.

I have a couple who live close to me. They are nice people. Don't get me wrong. They believe it is there right not too work and it is a 'lifestyle choice'. I did ask them what they would do if everyone had this attitude to which they replied 'people are really stupid for working'.

That is not what I meant. The Apathy on the part of the residents - ie by not spending 5 mins to paint over the 'offensive' graffitti will lead to more of the same. Soon you have little respect for the area & it is a downhill spiral. Waiting for the local council to come & do it isn't that far from a 'why work' attitude.

[Iommi]

That is not what I meant. The Apathy on the part of the residents - ie by not spending 5 mins to paint over the 'offensive' graffitti...

Is it that easy though, and, are residents entitled to paint, or treat council, or other people's property?

[misc]

Is it that easy though, and, are residents entitled to paint, or treat council, or other people's property?

I assume not - which is one of the reasons why I haven't painted over it myself.

[Guest_NWNREADER_*]

It is not the responsibility of the citizen to clean up after yobs. That is down to the council. Also; if such graffiti is found and reported then it is the duty of the police to find out who the culprits are and act; i.e. make them either clean it up, or get them or their parents to pay for the cleanup.

What good would it have done if such a person had cleaned it up? Another yob would come along and do the same. Then what?

Is it truly the councils responsibility to clean up after yobs? I wonder.....

As for the police action, what power do they have to 'make them clean it up', let alone get the parents to pay for the cleanup? And as no-one seems to know who did the deed, what magic wand will 'the police' (actually a human being with no special psychic powers) wave to identify the culprit?

[GMR]

This is a great example of an opportunity to utilize the untapped labour of those relctant to work in the area.
Before collecting their benefits they could be asked to help clean up the town.
But no , it would violate their human right to be bone idle.

To be honest I think that will be coming in the governments next budget.

[GMR]

You are wrong. Apathy breeds contempt.

The trouble is apathy is all around us.

[misc]

The trouble is apathy is all around us.

Whatever...