A councillor has called for the return of a programme where people serving community service clean up Lincoln’s graffiti.
The problem was described as ‘dreadful’ and a ‘blight on the local community’ at a City of Lincoln council meeting on Tuesday (December 3).
Councillor Hilton Spratt (Con) said he once managed a programme when he was on the council’s Executive where the local authority partnered with the Probation Service to clean graffiti.
Speaking at the full council meeting , he urged for it to be brought back.
“Graffiti seems to be appearing all over the place and is a blight on the local community,” he said.
“We had a very good arrangement where low-grade offenders who weren’t sentenced to prison did unpaid work such as graffiti removal.
“It was very popular. Restorative justice is a good idea and it didn’t cost the council anything.
“It wasn’t slave labour – they had committed crimes against the public – and seems particularly relevant now the prisons are full.”
He was backed by Councillor Rachel Storer (Con), who said: “Graffiti seems to be dreadful problem near the top end of the city, and is sometimes extremely offensive.
“No sooner do we manage to get rid of it than more appears.”
Councillor Bob Bushell (Lab), who currently holds the Portfolio for Remarkable Place, said the scheme would have to be picked up by Lincolnshire County Council.
“Graffiti has certainly got worse over the last couple of years, and is extremely difficult to keep on top of,” he told the meeting.
“There are certain prolific artists who go into the countryside, and down the A46.
“It is costly and time-consuming to get it removed – it’s a constant battle.
“Working with the probation service may unfortunately be an issue for the county council who have a larger budget.”