CALLS have been made for increased action to tackle “unlawful” graffiti as no extra funding is planned to be allocated for its removal.

There is no change in Brighton and Hove City Council’s budget plans for 2018/2019 to the current £92,500 funding provided to remove graffiti from the city’s buildings.

Campaigners proposing a “zero-tolerance” approach and the immediate removal of tags are planning to hold a public meeting to deal with graffiti and are urging councillors to tackle the problem of taggers repeatedly targeting buildings.

Robert Perry, property management partner at Stiles Harold Williams LLP (SHW), said: “If people commit criminal damage they should be prosecuted for doing it.

“It seems everybody thinks they have carte blanche to do it.

“We seem to get involved in this horrible definition of what is artistic graffiti and what is tagging.”

Residents have also taken to social media to say they are “fed up and disgusted” by the amount of tags on city buildings and walls that is not considered to be street art.

The council’s planned budget to deal with graffiti includes a staff budget of £64,500 to cover the cost of jet washing and graffiti removal, as well as £28,000 for materials and the use of contractors for specialist removals on tall buildings.

Mr Perry is sending a letter raising his concerns to Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, Sussex Police, City Clean and other parties.

Speaking to The Argus about budget plans, council leader Warren Morgan said: “Obviously graffiti is is an issue and does divide opinion.

“We can’t go on to private property and clean graffiti off. On our buildings we have a responsibility to remove it.

“It’s a fairly cyclical problem. In the end we all end up paying for it.”

The council said it removes offensive tags from both public and private property.