Why is graffiti against the law? – Spray Paint Art San Francisco

And what does painting in public mean?

Graffiti is against the law in the UK. It is illegal to paint on public property with letters, words, numbers or other markings or any other permanent writing (such as words or graphics on an advertisement, website, or a building) if these words, words, numbers or other markings have a serious adverse impact upon the public’s peace, security or economy, or if they may cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless worry.

Although it is illegal to paint on public property anywhere in the UK, the only way police have to actually catch graffiti criminals is if they get fingerprints or they observe graffiti written on the area they have been searching.

Graffiti is also a punishable offence in Britain. In the year to April 2015, graffiti offences carried a statutory maximum penalty of two years prison or a maximum fine of £8,000, depending on the offence.

This is the first time we have compiled an authoritative guide to what constitutes ‘Graffiti’ in the UK. It will be updated regularly as new graffiti legislation comes into effect. However, since 2013, graffiti has generally been defined as the visible application of graffiti-related written or painted material, or any other material which has a serious adverse impact upon public peace, security or economy – the purpose of which is to be of a visible nature and hence is visible to the eye, but not audible in any way, to the extent that this can be measured.

This guide contains the following definitions:

Graffiti: written or painted graffiti, whether or not visible or audible

Graffiti material: material that has been written or painted on a public property and is visible to the eye, but is not readable by touch

Graffiti paint: paint that has been used by a person as a permanent marker for graffiti to be erased

Graffiti: graffiti written or painted on a public property

graffiti act: any act by which graffiti or written graffiti is put on a public property

Where there are two instances of graffiti in a period of time, the court will have to consider the severity of the first episode and its likely effect on public order, safety, health, dignity or economy.

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