PROPERTY owners could face prosecution if graffiti on commercially owned buildings is not cleaned promptly.

From February 7, Brighton and Hove City Council will be able to issue community protection warnings and notices to tackle graffiti on street furniture and commercially owned buildings, and impose timescales on owners to ensure graffiti is removed quickly.

The council said evidence suggests speedy removal of graffiti from buildings and street furniture diminishes the incentive for vandals, resulting in fewer occurrences.

The scheme means property owners will receive a community protection warning and a timescale for when any graffiti must be removed.

If no action is taken, a community protection notice will be served on the owner, with a specific date that they are legally obliged to remove the graffiti.

As a last resort, the council can impose a fixed penalty notice or even prosecute property owners who ignore warnings and notices.

Councillor Amy Heley, who co-chairs the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: "The council is continuously working alongside other partners to reduce the amount of problem graffiti in the city.

"Introducing the use of community protection notices allows us to work with, monitor and impose timescales on commercial property owners to take responsibility in ensuring graffiti is removed quickly."

Timescales for removal will range from seven to 14 or 28 days to ensure graffiti is removed swiftly, dependent on the extent of the graffiti, as well as the size, height and whether specialist equipment is required for its removal.

It comes as the council cracks down on graffiti vandalism in the city, working alongside others including the police to introduce a range of measures as part of a "graffiti reduction strategy".

As part of the strategy, the council has targeted vandalism along London Road, monitoring the area over the last three months with the aim of removing graffiti within 24 hours.

The team has carried out 200 graffiti removals in the area so far.

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