Graffiti Removal

Code of Practice for exercising the powers set out in section 12 and 13 of the London Local Authorities Act 1995 (as amended) Association of London Government

The Association of London Government (ALG) is committed to fighting for more resources for London and getting the best possible deal for London’s 33 councils. Part think tank and part lobbying organisation, we also run a range of services designed to make life better for Londoners.

The Association of London Government (ALG) was formed in April 2000 from a merger of the five borough-funded London wide bodies that remained outside the new Greater London Authority. These were the previous ALG, the Greater London Employers’ Association, London Boroughs Grants, the London Housing Unit and the Transport Committee for London. The ALG represents all 32 London boroughs, the Corporation of London, the Metropolitan Police Authority and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, which all pay an annual subscription. It is a statutory joint committee. It is in an ideal position to advise on a range of issues relating to London government and other matters of concern to Londoners. It also works closely with the Local Government Association and with many private, voluntary and public sector bodies. The main functions of the ALG are to: provide a single voice for its member authorities where possible, lobby for adequate resources for the capital, lead on policy formulation and debate on key issues for London, act as the employers’ organisation for the boroughs, provide specialist housing advice, allocate grants to voluntary organisations serving more than one borough and provide and manage certain London- wide transport and traffic services.

This Code of Practice is published by the Association of London Government, Transport and Environment Committee (TEC). TEC aims to ensure that London boroughs’ concerns and best practice are taken fully into account in the development and implementation of the whole range of transport and environment policies generated by Government departments, the European Union, and the Mayor of London.

2 foreword

Graffiti is not art…

No matter where you live or work in London, graffiti is an all too frequent fact of everyday life. Where it occurs it is highly visible and has a great impact on the public and their perception of the area.

Graffiti is not just an isolated nuisance but linked to other forms of enviro-crime that demean and spoil our streets, town centres and open spaces. Graffiti is a costly and annoying expression of anti-social behaviour that can undermine our sense of well-being, making us feel uncomfortable in our own neighbourhoods.

The cost of graffiti is two fold, the financial cost of removing and enforcing against it, and the cost to our communities.

London has led the way nationally, in pushing for legislative changes to allow local authorities to tackle graffiti and provide the services that people want. This echoes the direction of National Government to improve the quality of the local environment by giving Local Authorities greater and additional powers to deal with enviro-crimes. This Code of Practice sets out the powers contained in the London Local Authority Act 1995 (as amended) relating to Graffiti Removal.

However more is needed than just removal if we are going to eradicate graffiti from London’s streets, town centres and open spaces. This poses a number of challenges for local authorities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent graffiti, to actively tackle the nuisance and take enforcement action against the perpetrators.

The ALG and London local authorities acknowledge that property owners and occupiers are also the victims of graffiti, and suggests that real progress towards eradicating this nuisance can only be made if local authorities and stakeholders work in partnership; developing new and innovative local and regional solutions to remove and prevent graffiti and enforcement against the perpetrators, sharing information and best practice at a regional level in a coordinated London approach.

Ultimately each of us has a role to play. The ALG believes that this approach is achievable across the capital and hope that through publicising the recommended process of partnership working London can make real progress in eradicating graffiti.

Cllr. Mike Cartwright, Chair, Transport and Environment Committee

3 contents

Introduction 5

General Principles 6 Graffiti 6 Graffiti Removal Notice 6 Owner and Occupiers 7 Land covered 7 Operational Land 7 Definitions of ‘offensive’ and ‘detrimental’ 7 Flyposting 8 Protected Parties 9 Protection of universal postal service providers 9

Procedure 10 Initial process 10 When to use the 1995 Act powers 10 Process for issuing a Notice 11 Service of Notice 11 Appeals 12 Counter Notice and Protected Parties 12 Enforcement 13 Procedures for dealing with repeat graffiti 13

Cleaning 14 Generally 14 Telecommunications Cabinets and Payphones 14

Access and Safety 15 Access to track/rail property 15 Access to Ports and Airports 15 Dealing with electrical equipment 16

Recovery of Expenditure 18

Monitoring, Rollout and Regulatory Impact Assessment 19

Appendices 20 Appendix A: Flow chart of procedure for graffiti removal 20 Appendix B: Standard Notice Template 23 Appendix C: Key regional and national stakeholders 26

4 introduction

1 Sections 12-14 of the London Local Authorities Act 2004 (‘the 2004 Act’) amend Sections 12 and 13 of the London Local Authorities Act 1995 (‘the 1995 Act’), enabling a local authority to serve a ‘graffiti removal notice’ on the occupiers of premises, apparatus or plant which would enable the local authority to recover the expenses of graffiti removal.

1 1 Section 12(6D) of the 2 The 1995 Act1 requires the Association of London Government, Transport and Environment joint 1995 Act. Committee2 (‘ALG TEC’) to agree and publish a Code of Practice (CoP) with respect to recovery of expenses before a borough can exercise this power. 2 ‘Joint committee’ means any joint committee established under section 3 The ALG TEC, although only required to develop a Code of Practice relating to recovery of costs for 101(5) the Local Government Act 1972 and graffiti removal, has, with the agreement of the London boroughs and in consultation with comprising at least one member from each affected owners and occupiers, extended this CoP to include operational and process issues, to borough council. In this provide guidance and help foster better working relationships and a partnership approach to case the Association of London Government, tackling the problem of graffiti. The ALG TEC will aim to ensure that, where feasible, there will be Transport and as much consistency with the national guidelines for use of similar powers provided in the Anti Environment Committee (‘ALG TEC’) performs this Social Behaviour Act 2003 (‘the ASB 2003 Act’) as possible. As this CoP has been prepared in function. consultation with the London boroughs and endorsed by the ALG TEC, London boroughs should have regard to it in employing the powers set out in sections 12 and 13 of the 1995 Act to aid in the prevention and removal of graffiti.

4 The CoP is also to publicise the recommended process of partnership working to explain how local authorities and owners and occupiers can work together to tackle graffiti.

5 The London boroughs, national and regional government, and owners and occupiers in the community affected by graffiti (‘stakeholders’) have been consulted in the preparation of this CoP, and the CoP has been published following a decision of the ALG TEC on 21 July 2005.

6 The ALG TEC will be responsible for liaising with stakeholders in the review of this CoP and the on- going development of uniform policy initiatives for combating graffiti.

5 general principles

7 Graffiti is a very important issue that is regularly highlighted as one of the key concerns of Londoners in the annual survey conducted by the ALG. It is a blight on the local environment for 3 London Assembly Environment Committee, people that live, work and visit London and citizens often associate it with anti-social behaviour scrutiny report on graffiti and crime and disorder. It is estimated to cost London £100m a year, with London boroughs in London, 2001. spending an estimated £7m a year on cleaning it up3.

8 This CoP is agreed on the premise and gives guidance that the London boroughs will use all reasonable steps to develop co-operative and constructive partnership arrangements with owners and occupiers in each of their local authority areas, which will support the prevention, management and removal of graffiti and aim to minimise the need for removal notices. It is also intended to foster a more standardised pan-London approach to graffiti removal.

9 London boroughs and owners and occupiers are encouraged to work cooperatively in tackling graffiti and all parties should work on the principle that graffiti should be removed as quickly as possible once identified, this is of particular importance regarding offensive graffiti.

10 It is acknowledged that property owners and occupiers are the victims of graffiti and the cost of its removal, extrapolated across London, can run to millions of pounds. London boroughs should encourage owners and occupiers to both take measures, as far as possible, to prevent graffiti (for example by using anti-graffiti coatings), and also to work in constructive partnership with the London boroughs to develop joint working initiatives to ensure effective and efficient removal of graffiti, as quickly as possible, with the aim being that notices are only issued as a last resort.

11 All parties should work on the principle that local authority employed staff and their contractors working to remove and prevent graffiti are knowledgeable in their field and deal with the issues on a daily basis and in undertaking their duties act with due diligence. In the interests of partnership working a local authority may choose to supply owners and occupiers with details of the local authority’s contractors.

12 It is envisaged that where London boroughs seek to use legislation (only as a last resort) to issue graffiti removal notices that the powers in the 1995 Act will be used, not those set out in the ASB 2003 Act, except where no equivalent powers exist under the 1995 Act. (Refer: Paragraphs 42 to 45 of this CoP: When to use the 1995 Act powers.)

Graffiti 13 Graffiti can be defined as any informal or illegal marks, drawings or paintings that have been deliberately made by a person or persons on any physical structure in the outdoor environment, usually with a view to communicating some message or symbol, etc. to others. The terms ‘graffiti’ and ‘sign’ are used interchangeably in this Code of Practice (‘CoP’) as referred to in the legislation.

Graffiti Removal Notice 14 A ‘graffiti removal notice’ is served on the occupier, or, if there appears, through reasonably enquiry, to be no occupier, it is fixed to the surface of the offending premises, apparatus or plant. The notice requires the occupier (or alternatively, the occupier or owner where a notice is affixed) to remove or obliterate the sign within a period specified in the notice, being not less than 14 days

6 after the notice has been served or affixed. If this is not done within the specified time the council has the power to remove or obliterate the sign themselves and recover the reasonable costs of doing so.

Owner and Occupiers 15 Reference to ‘owners and occupiers’ in this CoP refers to those persons who legally own or occupy premises, apparatus or plant, and includes undertakers and statutory undertakers.

Land covered 16 Subsection 12(9) of the 1995 Act defines, the surfaces covered by the powers, which are surfaces of any premises, apparatus or plant readily visible from a place to which the public have access. ‘Premises’ are defined as a building, wall, fence or other structure or erection.

17 Subsection 12(6A) of the 1995 Act limits the power of local authorities so that they cannot recover their expenses for removal of graffiti where the surface: a) forms part of a flat or dwellinghouse; or b) is within the curtilage of or forms part of the boundary of the curtilage of a dwellinghouse.

18 These powers are further limited in respect of ‘protected parties’, the details of which are set out below.

Operational land 19 Operational land can generally be taken to mean land which is used by the party owning it for the purpose of carrying on their functions together with any land in which an interest is held for that purpose.

Definitions of ‘offensive’ and ‘detrimental’ 20 To qualify for removal under the 1995 Act, graffiti must be detrimental to the amenity of an area or offensive.

21 ‘Offensive’ applies where graffiti is racially offensive, sexually offensive, homophobic, depicts a sexual or violent act or is defamatory. Offensive graffiti should be prioritised for speedy removal. All boroughs are to take all reasonable steps to remove offensive graffiti within 24 hours. In accordance with this CoP’s emphasis of co-operative working with owners and occupiers adversely affected by graffiti, owners and occupiers should be encouraged to meet this timescale from the first time of contact by a local authority. Alternatively the owner or occupier may wish to enter into an agreement with the local authority where the local authority will be responsible for removal of offensive graffiti on behalf of the owner or occupier.

22 ‘Detrimental’: - Graffiti that is not ‘offensive’ can still be detrimental to the amenity of an area i.e. has an adverse impact upon the environment. Simple ‘tagging’, for example, can be ‘detrimental’ under the terms of the 1995 Act. Local authorities should take a proportionate view of whether a particular instance of graffiti is detrimental. Relevant factors might include: the surface area covered by the graffiti, local complaints and the degree and nature of the graffiti problem in the area.

7 Flyposting 23 This section is included in the CoP as flyposting and graffiti are often found in the same location and are intrinsically linked in their negative impact on London’s streets environment. In many cases action against flyposting will take place at the same time as action against graffiti, and many (though not all) legal provisions are the same. This section sets out local authority powers to remove illegal flyposting. London boroughs and owners and occupiers are encouraged to work cooperatively in tackling flyposting either as a separated form of anti-social behaviour or when taking action to prevent or remove graffiti.

24 Local authorities currently hold powers to remove illegal flyposting and to charge the removal costs or take action against the person or persons responsible for displaying the advertisements or causing it to be displayed under section 225 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992, and sections 10 and 13 of the 1995 Act. These powers remain the recommended ones for removal of flyposting.

25 The graffiti removal provisions of the 1995 Act do not give an authority the power to require persons to remove flyposting, or to recover costs for removing flyposting itself. Therefore if authorities wish to remove flyposting when using powers in the 1995 Act to remove graffiti they should note that where the cost of doing so is more than the cost of removing the graffiti alone, the additional cost may not be recovered from the owner or occupier (as the case may be) of the premises, apparatus or plant, but must be recovered from the person responsible for the advertisement displayed in contravention of regulations.

26 If local authorities wish to remove flyposting when using powers in the 1995 Act to remove graffiti, the authorities should ensure they follow the principles set out in this CoP and that employees of authorities use materials that comply with COSHH – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.

27 Local authorities must take all reasonable steps to prevent damage to property and comply with any legislation governing health and safety, as set out later in this CoP, including provisions set out in Paragraphs 79 to 80 of this CoP: Access and Safety. Local authorities should also note the specific provisions relating to protected parties in removing illegal flyposting which are consistent with those relating to removal of graffiti (section 13 1995 Act). Refer paragraphs 31 to 34

28 Section 31 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (CNE Act 2005) amends section 48 of the ASB 2003 Act to incorporate new provisions to combat flyposting. The ASB 2003 Act provisions allow for the service of a ‘removal notice’ on the owner responsible for the affected surface.

29 In addition to the provisions in section 31 of the CNE Act 2005, section 34 of CNE Act 2005 amends section 225 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 so as to give all local authorities the power to recover the cost of removing illegal flyposting from the person or persons responsible for displaying the advertisements or causing it to be displayed. Additionally Schedule 5 of the CNE Act 2005 repeals section 10 of the 1995 Act since there is no need to retain the separate London powers once this legislation applies nationally.

8 30 Sections 31 and 34 and the repeal in Schedule 5 of the CNE Act 2005 are scheduled to be brought into force in April 2006. The ALG TEC will work with stakeholders to amend this CoP to accommodate these amendments when they come into effect.

Protected Parties 31 Local authorities powers are limited4 so that they cannot be used to remove graffiti from surfaces 4 Refer to limitation to on operational land of a protected party unless it is a surface which abuts onto, or to which access section 12 of the 1995 Act set out in section 14 of the is given directly from: 2004 Act. a) a street; or b) any place other than a street to which the public have a right of access.

32 Where the affected surface is on property owned or occupied by a protected party but is not on operational land, local authorities may still use their powers under section 12 of the 1995 Act to issue graffiti removal notices where the affected surface falls within the ambit of the legislation. This may be relevant, for example, in respect of bus shelters or street furniture.

33 In addition, section 13 of the 1995 Act provides that ‘protected parties’ will receive different treatment in the exercise of the powers set out in section 12 of the 1995 Act. Where the protected party fails to comply with a graffiti removal notice within the timeframe set down in the notice, a local authority, prior to entering onto operational land (as referred to in paragraph 31 above) to remove the offending graffiti, or prior to removing graffiti from bus shelters or street furniture, must serve at least 28 days written notice of their intention to do so. Further information about this process is found in paragraphs 62 to 64 of this CoP.

34 Protected parties as defined in the 1995 Act are: • British Railways Board (BRB) (Residuary) Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary of the Strategic Rail Authority; • Network Rail; • British Waterways Board; and 5 Transport for London (TFL) • Transport for London (TFL)5. consists of: London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, The names of these parties may change over time, and while every attempt will be made to keep London Buses, Streets, Coaches and Dial A Ride. this CoP up-to-date, local authorities should bear this in mind when exercising their powers to serve graffiti removal notices. Additionally it should be noted that the Strategic Rail Authority will be abolished at the end of 2005.

Protection of universal postal service providers 35 Although not defined as a protected party, the 2004 Act makes special provision in respect of

6 Also defined under the universal postal service providers (as defined under the Postal Services Act 2000). The 2004 Act Postal Services Act 2000 - considers them to be occupiers of any universal postal service letterbox or service pouch-box6. The section 86(4) and paragraph 1(10) of 2004 Act requires that universal postal service providers be given not less than 28 days notice of Schedule 6 respectively. the local authority’s intention to serve a notice under section 12 of the 1995 Act.

9 procedure

Initial process 36 This CoP is premised upon the establishment of co-operative and constructive partnership working between local authorities and owners and occupiers whose land and premises are affected by graffiti to foster a more standardised pan-London approach.

37 Before starting to use the new powers, the local authority should as far as reasonably possible identify the local owners and occupiers most likely to be affected and make contact with them to inform them of the new powers available to local authorities and the proposed co-operative approach to combat graffiti without resorting to formal notices.

38 All parties should act on the basis that graffiti should be removed as soon as possible through good partnership working and joint initiatives and a graffiti removal notice should be issued as a last resort.

39 The local authority and each owner or occupier involved should then nominate a single point of contact (‘SPOC’). Key regional and national stakeholders are identified as part of this CoP (Appendix C). Together, SPOCs should identify who owns and occupies property in the vicinity of existing graffiti trouble spots.

7 Refer subsection 79(3) 40 Local authorities currently hold powers to request from an undertaker records for the location of New Road and Street every item of apparatus belonging to him in the street as a person having the authority to execute Works Act 1991. works in the street or as deemed by the undertaker to have sufficient interest under the New Road and Street Works Act 19917.

41 Where an owner or occupier affected by graffiti fails to respond to these approaches or to nominate a SPOC, the local authority may proceed to issue notices as necessary by way of recorded or hand delivery. Where the owner or occupier is a company, the notice should be addressed and sent to the ‘Company Secretary’ at the registered office and also copied to the local area office. A local authority should, however, take a long-term view and continue to try and develop a co- operative relationship, as owners and occupiers of premises change over time.

When to use the 1995 Act powers 42 This Code of Practice envisages that London boroughs will rely upon the powers in the 1995 Act not those set out in the ASB 2003 Act when they seek to issue graffiti removal notices except where no equivalent powers exist (Refer: Paragraphs 44 to 45 of this CoP) under the 1995 Act.

43 As the provisions of the 1995 Act are broadly drawn, reliance upon the ASB 2003 Act powers should, therefore, only be necessary in limited circumstances.

44 The 1995 Act is broader in relation to the land/buildings/surfaces covered, however these powers are limited in respect of the operational land of certain protected parties i.e. BRB (Residuary) Ltd, Network Rail, the British Waterways Board and TFL, so that the powers can only be used to remove graffiti from surfaces on operational land where these surfaces abut streets or where the public otherwise have direct access to them from another public place.

10 45 The ASB 2003 Act, on the other hand, enables access to land owned/occupied or controlled by statutory undertakers where the surface is visible from public land or is otherwise visible to members of the public using the services and facilities of the statutory undertaker, for example the wall of a building on Network Rail land closed to the public but visible from a moving train. Consequently the ASB 2003 Act should be relied upon in these circumstances.

Process for issuing a Notice 46 In the interests of partnership working, a local authority may also wish to advise an owner of affected property prior to issuing a notice. Universal postal service providers must be served with at least 28 days written notice of the local authority’s intention to serve a graffiti removal notice.

47 A ‘graffiti removal notice’ is served on the occupier, or, if there appears, through reasonably enquiry, to be no occupier, it is fixed to the surface of the offending premises, apparatus or plant. The notice requires the occupier (or alternatively, the occupier or owner where a notice is affixed) to remove or obliterate the sign within a period specified in the notice, being not less than 14 days after the notice has been served or affixed. If this is not done within the specified time the council has the power to remove or obliterate the sign themselves and recover the reasonable costs of doing so (standard notice template Appendix B).

48 All notices served under section 12 of the 1995 Act must give the occupier (or owner where relevant) at least 14 days after service of the notice to remove or obliterate the offending sign.

49 Local authorities may take into consideration resource constraints of owners or occupiers on whose property graffiti is present when serving a notice, for example, in setting the timeframe for compliance with the notice.

50 Local authorities should act consistently and impartially with the property owners and occupiers with whom they have dealings.

51 Any notice served should require removal of the graffiti. This may involve repainting the whole surface or just the area covered by graffiti. Repainting should aim to restore the surface’s original appearance as far as possible, but any requirement to repaint must be proportionate. In cases where complete repainting is likely to damage electrical equipment, only the area directly affected should be repainted.

52 In the interests of partnership working, a local authority may use their discretion to grant an extension to the period for complying with the notice in response to a valid request from the owner or occupier (for example, to bring the graffiti removal in line with planned works by the owner or occupier). The local authority should respond to a valid request from the owner or occupier for an extension to the period for complying with the notice whether granting or declining the request, before the deadline for compliance with the notice.

Service of Notice 53 Notices served under section 12 of the 1995 Act requiring removal or obliteration of the offending sign should be served by hand or by recorded delivery on the occupier (where they can be identified after reasonable inquiry). A verifiable written record should be kept as evidence of

11 service. Where there appears to be no occupier the graffiti removal notice must be affixed to the surface of the offending premises, apparatus or plant requiring the owner or occupier to remove or obliterate the sign. A notice may be served electronically at the agreement of all parties to deal electronically.

54 In circumstances where the owner or occupier can be identified and is a company, the notice should be addressed and sent to the ‘Company Secretary’ at the registered office and copied to the local area office.

55 In circumstances where a graffiti notice is affixed rather than served by post, photographic evidence of the notice having been served should be taken by the authority, clearly showing the location and date on which the notice has been served to ensure it is admissible as evidence in court.

Appeals 56 An owner or occupier may appeal against a graffiti removal notice prior to the expiry of the timeframe for compliance with the notice.

57 The right of and grounds for appeal are as set out in section 12(3) of the 1995 Act. These are: a) the sign is not detrimental to the amenity of an area or is not offensive, b) the notice has an informality, defect or error, c) the notice has been served on the wrong occupier, except in cases where the notice was served by affixing it to the offending surface.

58 Only the owner or occupier served with a notice has the right of appeal against that notice.

59 Appeal is to a magistrates’ court and must be made within either 14 days or 28 days, as relevant, of the notice being served. This CoP should be provided to the court where any appeal proceedings are lodged.

60 An authority should consider seriously any proposal from an owner or occupier to negotiate an agreement rather than make a formal appeal.

61 When an appeal is lodged, the effect of the notice is suspended pending the outcome of that appeal.

Counter Notices and Protected Parties 62 Where a protected party fails to comply with a graffiti removal notice and does not appeal the notice within the timeframe for complying with the notice, a local authority cannot remove or obliterate graffiti from a protected party’s bus shelter or street furniture, or enter onto their operational land (as referred to in paragraph 31 of this CoP), without serving at least 28 days notice (refer section 13 of the 1995 Act).

63 A notice served under section 13 of the 1995 Act on a protected party must specify the bus shelter, street furniture, placard, poster, hoarding, structure or sign concerned and its location.

12 64 Where such a notice is served for the purposes of entering onto operational land (as referred to in paragraph 31 of this CoP) to remove the offending graffiti, the protected party may, within 28 days of the notice being served, serve a counter-notice on the local authority setting out reasonable conditions that the local authority should follow when removing the graffiti where the conditions are necessary both for safety, efficiency, economic purposes or to protect works, apparatus or property not owned by the protected party, but lawfully on their land, including provisions set out in this Paragraphs 79 to 80 of this CoP: Access and Safety. The local authority must then comply with these conditions when entering the protected party’s operational land to remove the graffiti.

Enforcement 8 Under section 2 65 Local authorities should be vigorous, and where practicable owners should co-operate and work in Criminal Damage Act 8 1971. partnership, in taking enforcement action and in prosecuting graffiti vandals . Where relevant, local authorities and owners should share information and best practice on any enforcement action undertaken.

66 Local authorities should retain dated photographic evidence of each case of graffiti that is the subject of a graffiti removal notice (clearly showing the graffiti and location). This should be shared with the owner in the case of any dispute. This evidence should also be used to support the prosecution of graffiti vandals.

Procedures for dealing with repeat graffiti 67 It is acknowledged that repeat graffiti is a problem which adds to the costs of removal and management of graffiti. Therefore, this CoP encourages all parties to act in partnership to prevent graffiti. Taking measures forward that will prevent future incidences of graffiti in areas of prevalence is beneficial to all through improved appearance of the amenity of an area and longer term financial savings.

68 Where there is an area with local authority boundaries which is prone to repeat or prevalent graffiti, the parties should establish preventative arrangements including, where appropriate, joint surveillance of trouble spots.

69 Where a graffiti removal notice has been served in an area of prevalent graffiti and the local authority has a clear policy on graffiti that refers to preventative action, the local authority may in removing and obliterating the graffiti also take preventative measures which are consistent with the action of removal and obliteration, such as using anti-graffiti paint. Factors relating to prevalence might include: the surface area covered by the graffiti, local complaints and the degree and nature of the graffiti problem in the area.

70 Where preventative measures require action which goes beyond the removal and obliteration of the graffiti, these additional preventative measures should only be undertaken after consultation and agreement with the owner and occupier of the affected property. Alternatives could include additional enforcement action to target perpetrators, such as surveillance, or the use of anti- graffiti coatings.

13 cleaning

Generally 71 The powers of the local authority following non-compliance with a graffiti removal notice are restricted to the local authority taking action to ‘remove or obliterate’ the offending graffiti. No other interference with the property is permitted when relying upon these powers.

72 When removing graffiti, employees of local authorities must use materials that comply with COSHH – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.

73 Local authorities must take all reasonable steps to prevent damage to property and comply with any legislation governing health and safety. Specifically they: • must not use high-pressure jet washers or steam cleaners where this will damage property, in particular in respect of any street cabinets or other property holding electronic equipment (such as ticket machines and parking meters) or historic buildings or monuments where irreversible damage maybe done to the surface. • must take all due care to ensure damage is not done to brickwork or stonework. • must not use paint or sealant that may restrict or block the flow of ventilating air to equipment, or seize locks or hinges. • before commencing work, cleaning operatives must be made aware of the 240v mains electricity supply to all payphones and many street cabinets. Further guidance is provided below and under the heading ‘Access & Safety’.

Telecommunications Cabinets and Payphones 74 Street cabinets are an essential part of those networks, housing electronic components which must readily accessible to engineers, or that are unsuitable for installation underground. They contain sensitive equipment, the value of which rises above £30,000 in some cabinets, and are installed using powers under the Electronic Communications Code (Schedule 2, Telecommunications Act 1984 as amended by Schedule 3, Communications Act 2003), and must be maintained, (under the New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991) in the interest of public safety.

75 There is increasing demand upon the electrical equipment housed within street cabinets for example through roll-out of Broadband Internet services, as undertakers seek to maximise the cabinet occupancy (or efficiency) and avoid unnecessary construction in roads and footpaths. Any electrical damage arising from cleaning operations is likely to lead to loss of service to customers for a period of time. It is important to remember that undertakers’ customers are also local authorities’ residents.

76 All cleaning materials must meet COSHH regulations and COSHH specification sheets should be available to support this. • in order to prevent damage to corrosive (rusting) and thermal characteristics of cabinets, the use of abrasive cleaning materials or fluids is not to be permitted on cabinets. • in order to prevent unnecessary damage to polycarbonate windows the use of abrasive cleaning materials, such as green scouring pads, is not to be permitted on payphones • when cleaning payphones, it is particularly important that care is taken to ensure the prevention of water from entering the terminal box, light fittings or payphone mechanism.

77 Local Authorities must ensure that contractors appointed by them operate within the requirements of this Code of Practice and the law.

14 access and safety

78 When undertaking work to remove graffiti, if the owner or occupier is required to park on the highway (where there is no designated parking area) the owner or occupier may apply to the Local Authority’s Parking Dispensation Service who may provide a parking dispensation if it is deemed appropriate.

79 The safety of staff cleaning property and of the general public is paramount. Local authorities should work with partners to ensure their health and safety obligations are met.

80 Under no circumstances should these graffiti removal powers be exercised in a manner which endangers the safety, security or reliability of the transport network.

Access to track/rail property 9 For the purpose of this 81 The removal of graffiti from surfaces belonging to statutory undertakers operating railways9 may CoP railways include: mainline, local, London require the carrying out of special safety procedures including temporary track closures Underground, Docklands (‘possessions’). Working in partnership, all effort should be made to co-ordinated the work with Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink other activities in order to avoid excessive costs. Accordingly, local authorities must consult with statutory railway undertakers as to what would be a reasonable period of time for compliance prior to service of a graffiti removal notice. Due to required procedure for removing graffiti from surfaces belonging to statutory undertakers operating railways, these statutory undertakers should work in constructive partnership with the London boroughs to develop joint working initiatives to ensure effective and efficient removal of graffiti, with the aim being that notices are only issued as a last resort.

82 In the case of railway land, local authorities must not under any circumstances enter or authorise any person to enter this land unless permission is granted by a statutory railway operator. Only the statutory railway undertaker concerned is in a position to authorise entry by persons in possession of appropriate railway safety certification, meeting the requirements of the undertakers’ Railway Safety Cases approved under the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 (as amended). A failure to comply with this instruction is likely to place the local authority concerned in breach of its own duties under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. The officer(s) of the authority authorising entry may in such circumstances also render themselves liable to prosecution in their personal capacity.

83 In the event of non-compliance with a graffiti removal notice served under the ASB 2003 Act in relation to the operational land of ‘protected parties’ (i.e. not operational land within the meaning of section 14(2) of the 2004 Act) the local authority which served the notice should raise this failure to comply with officials at the ALG TEC who will attempt to mediate an acceptable resolution.

Access to Ports and Airports 84 Access to ports and airports is likely to be strictly controlled because of the risks to security; in particular access to the airside at commercial airports is subject to stringent security checks. Many ports have byelaws restricting access to areas in the port and, in the light of the threat from terrorism, new security measures are being introduced in ports to control access to sensitive areas. Additionally ports and airports generally cover an extensive area and may have complex and heavily used traffic routes. In order to ensure that they do not stray into areas where they are

15 endangered by heavy plant, contractors should be escorted to the place where they need to work. Contractors carrying out work at ports and airports should therefore contact the harbour authority or airport authority responsible for the site to arrange access before carrying out any work.

85 When working airside at airports contractors should take particular care to avoid leaving any loose debris which can be sucked into aircraft engines. Any such items (known as FOD - flying object debris) should be placed in the bins provided for the purpose.

Dealing with electrical equipment 86 Street cabinets are essential to the provision of communication services. They house critical electrical and electronic equipment, and serve as access points for key maintenance of the network, together with the management of a service provider’s customers. The avoidance of the effects of dampness or water penetration is imperative, and common to all undertakers’ street furniture and local authority street furniture (housing electrical equipment). Undertakers and local authorities should take all reasonable steps to take preventative measures to safeguard their equipment, for example using materials that are easy to clean and that is difficult to graffiti. This may involve partnership working between local authorities and undertakers to develop most practical solutions for the street environment. Undertakers have different specifications and requirements in seeking to minimise such effects. These are set out in terms of network delivery, integrity and management, in addition to obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This is a complex area, with a number of factors over-lapping. As such, definitive advice in relation to electrical equipment has not been prepared, however, local authorities should be aware of the following points: • all cabinets house equipment that will be sensitive to the effects of dampness and water penetration. • the degree of any service loss (commonly referred to as ‘outage’) caused by cleaning cabinets will probably be a function of the degree of penetration of water (or any other cleaning fluids), the degree of sensitivity of the housed equipment and the timeframe to effect repairs, which in turn might be dictated by the delivery time of replacement pieces of equipment. • electrical supply may be provided from underground cables or via overhead lines. • to simplify risk assessments, local authorities should assume that ALL cabinets have electrical connection • cabinets will be of different sizes but, more importantly, may perform different network-delivery functions within a Service Provider’s network architecture. • there may be different network architectures in a particular Local Authority - as point of reference the historical Cable TV industry (now substantially ntl and Telewest) comprised over 20 different companies. Generic grouping of cabinet types (and associated electrical requirements) will not necessarily be possible in all cases. • ventilation louvres (fixed or variable) provide ventilation to cabinets, which becomes critical in hot weather conditions. Equipment is strategically placed close to the louvres in order to maximise cooling effects. As such louvre points should be treated as ‘sensitive’ zones.

16 87 In consideration of the above points it is essential that service providers and local authorities work closely together and agree the following points: • Any special measures relating to a cabinet which is the subject of a Notice • Stand-by and call-out procedures in the event of accidents and damages • Liabilities in the event of any accidents • Liabilities in the event of damage

17 recovery of expenditure

88 Local authorities may only recover those expenses reasonably incurred in removing or obliterating the graffiti including the costs of administration of issuing notices, following up notices and recovery of expenses.

89 Local authorities may only recover costs for preventative works where these are consistent with the action of removal and obliteration of the graffiti, such as by using anti-graffiti paint.

90 Local Authorities should not seek to use these powers as a means of raising additional revenue.

91 The local authority will invoice the company for the amount due setting out a breakdown of the costs and payment should be made in 60 days.

18 monitoring, rollout and regulatory impact assessment

92 The Home Office will produce a Regulatory Impact Assessment (‘RIA’) following the pilot programme in relation to the similar powers provided under the ASB 2003 Act. This RIA will inform decisions about future rollout of those provisions to other local authorities. The Home Office Code of Practice for exercising the powers set out in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 for Graffiti Removal can be found on the Home Office’s ‘Together’ campaign website: www.together.gov.uk

93 The 2004 Act does not require an RIA to be conducted, but the ALG will review the outcome of the Home Office assessment and feed relevant points into the Code, if necessary

19 appendices

Appendix A: Flow chart of procedure for graffiti removal

STAGE 1: Initial process

As soon as an illegal sign or graffiti is identified on premises, apparatus or plant the council should begin proceedings for its removal. At all stages regard should be given to the COP. Photographic evidence should taken, dated and clearly show the location of the sign or graffiti.

The council must make all attempts to ascertain the owner or occupier of the premises, apparatus or plant on which the sign or graffiti is present.

Once the owner or occupier has been identified all attempts should be made to remove graffiti through a partnership approach between boroughs and owners or occupiers.

Offensive graffiti (racially offensive, sexually offensive, If the voluntary homophobic, depicting a sexual or violent act or defamatory) partnership approach to should be prioritised for speedy removal. All boroughs are to graffiti removal breaks take all reasonable steps to remove offensive graffiti within 24 down the council should hours. In accordance with the CoP, boroughs should work with begin legal proceeding owners and occupiers to meet this timescale from the first time against the owner or of contact by a local authority. Alternatively the owner or occupier to remove or occupier may wish to enter into an agreement with the local obliterate the sign or authority where the local authority will be responsible for graffiti. removal of offensive graffiti on behalf of the owner or occupier.

The borough must identify whether the surface on which the sign or graffiti is present is covered by legislation allowing the service of a statutory notice for graffiti removal.

Under the 1995 Act and the ASB 2003 Act a notice may be served on surfaces of any premises, apparatus or plant readily visible from a place to which the public have access.

The 1995 Act powers are limited in respect of the operational land of certain protected parties i.e. BRB (Residuary) Ltd, Network Rail, the British Waterways Board and TFL, so that the powers can only be used to remove graffiti from surfaces on operational land where these surfaces abut streets or where the public otherwise have direct access to them from another public place.

Non-operation land or surfaces on operational Operational land to which there land where these surfaces abut streets or is no public access. where the public otherwise have direct access to them from another public place.

The borough should serve a notice under The borough should serve a notice under powers contained in the 1995 Act. powers contained in the ASB 2003 Act.

20 STAGE 2: Service of a notice and undertaking works under powers contained in the LLA Act 1995

A notice under the 1995 Act requires the If the premises, apparatus or plant is occupier (or alternatively, the occupier or owned by Universal postal service, owner where a notice is affixed) to remove or the borough must serve at least 28 obliterate the sign within a period specified days written notice of its intention in the notice, being not less than 14 days to serve a graffiti removal notice after the notice has been served or affixed.

Local authorities may wish to take into consideration resource constraints of owners or occupiers on whose premises, apparatus or plant the graffiti is present when serving a notice, for example, in setting the timeframe for compliance with the notice

Notices served under section 12 of the Notices served under section 12 of the 1995 Act requiring removal or obliteration 1995 Act requiring removal or obliteration of the offending sign should be served by of the offending sign where there appears hand or by recorded delivery on the to be no occupier the must be affixed to occupier (where they can be identified the surface of the offending premises, after reasonable inquiry). The borough apparatus or plant requiring the owner or should keep a verifiable written record as occupier to remove or obliterate the sign. evidence of service.

The notice should be addressed and sent to Photographic evidence of the notice the ‘Company Secretary’ at the registered having been served should be taken by office and copied to the local area office the authority, clearly showing the location and date on which the notice has been served to ensure it is admissible as evidence in court.

In the interests of partnership working, a local authority may use their discretion to grant an extension to the period for complying with the notice in response to a valid request from the owner or occupier (for example, to bring the graffiti removal in line with planned works by the owner or occupier). The local authority should respond to a valid request from the owner or occupier for an extension to the period for complying with the notice whether granting or declining the request, before the deadline for compliance with the notice.

An owner or occupier may appeal a graffiti removal notice prior to the expiry of the timeframe for compliance with the notice.

Appeal is to a magistrates’ court and must be made within either 14 days or 28 days, as relevant, of the notice being served. The CoP should be provided to the court where any appeal proceedings are lodged.

21 Where an owner or Protected Party occupier (including a Where a protected party fails to comply with a graffiti protected party) fails to removal notice and does not appeal the notice within comply with a graffiti the timeframe for complying with the notice, a local removal notice and does authority cannot remove or obliterate graffiti from a not appeal, or in the protected party’s bus shelter or street furniture, or case of protected parties enter onto their operational land (as referred to in serve a counter notice paragraph 31 of this CoP), without serving at least 28 within the timeframe for days notice of their intention to do so. complying with the notice, under the powers Where such a notice is served for the purposes of in the 1995 Act a local entering onto operational land to remove the authority can undertake offending graffiti, the protected party may, within 28 the works to remove or days of the notice being served, serve a counter- obliterate graffiti notice on the local authority setting out reasonable themselves and recover conditions that the local authority should follow when the reasonable cost of removing the graffiti where the conditions are doing so. necessary both for safety, efficiency, economic purposes or to protect works, apparatus or property not owned by the protected party, but lawfully on their land. The local authority must then comply with these conditions when entering the protected party’s operational land to remove the graffiti

The powers of the local authority following non-compliance with a graffiti removal notice are restricted to the local authority taking action to ‘remove or obliterate’ the offending graffiti. No other interference with the property is permitted when relying upon these powers.

In the interest of best practice Local authorities are encouraged to use preventative coatings such as anti-graffiti paint when removing or obliterating the graffiti.

Stage 3: Cost Recovery

Local authorities may only recover those expenses reasonably incurred in removing or obliterating the graffiti including the costs of administration of issuing notices, following up notices and recovery of expenses. The Local authorities may not recover costs for preventative works where these are not consistent with the action of non-preventative removal and obliteration of the graffiti.

22 Appendix B: Standard Notice Template

[COUNCIL] LLAA95

London Local Authorities Act 1995: Sections 12 and 13

NOTICE AS TO DEFACEMENT OF BUILDINGS (Graffiti/Sign Removal Notice)

To:

Of:

The Owner/Occupier of [[premises, apparatus or plant] known as [ADDRESS/ DESCRIPTION]]

[[the [DESCRIPTION] e.g. phone box located at [LOCATION]] on which a ‘Sign/Graffiti’ (informal or illegal marks, drawings or paintings) have been deliberately made known as [NAME OF HIGHWAY, POSTAL DISTRICT AND POST CODE] in the [LONDON BOROUGH OF].

WHERE it appears to the Council of the [LONDON BOROUGH OF] [‘the Council’], that the Sign/Graffiti on the said [premises, apparatus or plant] is a blight on the local environment which the Council considers to be detrimental to the amenity of the area or offensive.

THEREFORE, the Council, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by section 12 and 13 of the London Local Authorities Act 1995, HEREBY GIVES YOU NOTICE REQUIRING YOU WITHIN [No. not less than 14] DAYS from the service or affixation of this Notice upon you, to take appropriate measures to remove or obliterate the Sign/Graffiti.

In the event you fail to remove or obliterate the sign/graffiti within the period specified in the foregoing paragraphs the Council HEREBY GIVES YOU NOTICE that unless all the offending sign/graffiti are removed within the notice period of [No. not less than 14] DAYS of service of this notice, the Council reserves the right to send in its own workforce (or delegated contractor) to remove all such sign(s) or graffiti, and the cost of doing so will be recovered from you.

Should you feel aggrieved by the requirements of this notice you may appeal to a Magistrates’ Court. Your attention is drawn to the appeals provisions set out on the attached notes.

DATED:

Our Ref:

ADDRESS: (to which any communication regarding this Notice may be sent) for [Officers Name], being the Officer appointed for this purpose

23 [London Borough of] [Address] This matter is being dealt with by:

Tel:

SEE NOTES ATTACHED

NOTES Measures required by the Notice 1 The notice requires the occupier (or alternatively, the occupier or owner where a notice is affixed) to remove or obliterate the sign from the premises, apparatus or plant within a period specified in the notice, being not less than 14 days after the notice has been served or affixed.

Special provisions to comply with the notice 2 Where this Notice has been served by the Council on any of the following ‘protected parties’: • British Railways Board (BRB) (Residuary) Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary of the Strategic Rail Authority; • Network Rail; • British Waterways Board; and 10 10 Transport for London (TFL) • Transport for London (TFL) . consists of: London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, 3. Section 13 of the 1995 Act provides that ‘protected parties’ will receive different treatment in the London Buses, Streets, Coaches and Dial A Ride. exercise of the powers set out in section 12 of the 1995 Act. Where the protected party fails to comply with a graffiti removal notice within the timeframe set down in the notice, a local authority, prior to entering onto operational land to remove the offending sign or graffiti, or prior to removing graffiti from bus shelters or street furniture, the council must serve at least 28 days written notice of their intention to do so.

Extension of the period to comply with measures 4. The period within which you are to comply with the requirements of this Notice, may be extended with the agreement of the Council.

Appeal to Magistrates’ Court [Court of Summary Jurisdiction] 5. Under section 12(3) of the Act a person upon whom notice has been served under subsection (1) (a) of the Act, or the occupier or owner of the premises which includes a surface to which a notice has been affixed under subsection (1) (b) of the Act may, within 21 days from the date of the service of this Notice upon you, appeal to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction on any of the following grounds which are appropriate in the circumstances: (a) the Notice or requirement is not justified by the terms of the section under which it purports to have been given or made;

(b) there has been some informality, defect or error in, or in connection with, the Notice;

24 (c) the time within which the works are to be executed is not reasonably sufficient for the purpose;

(d) the Notice might lawfully have been served on the occupier of the premises in question instead of on the owner, or on the owner instead of on the occupier, and that it would have been equitable for it to have been so served;

(e) where the work is work for the common benefit of the premises in question and other premises, that some other person, being the owner or occupier of premises to be benefited, ought to contribute towards the expenses of executing any works required.

Where the grounds upon which an appeal under this section is brought include a ground specified in (d) or (e) above, the appellant shall serve a copy of his notice of appeal on each other person referred to therein.

6. If and in-so-far-as an appeal under this section is based on the ground of some informality, defect or error in or in connection with the Notice, the Court shall dismiss the appeal, if it is satisfied that the informality, defect or error was not a material one.

7. Where the grounds upon which an appeal is brought include a ground specified in either of paragraph 5(d) or 5(e) above, you must serve a copy of the Notice of Appeal on each other person referred to. In the case of an appeal in respect of any ground, you may serve a copy of the Notice of Appeal on any other person having an estate or interest in premises to which the building, structure or bridge relates. Upon the hearing of the appeal, the Court may make such order as it thinks fit with respect to the person by whom any work is to be executed, and the contribution to be made by any other person towards the cost of the work, or as to the proportions in which any expenses which may become recoverable by the Local Authority are to be borne by the appellant and such other person.

9. In exercising its powers under this subsection, the Court shall have regard: (a) as between an owner and an occupier, to the terms and condition, whether contractual or statutory, of the tenancy, and to the nature of the works required; and,

(b) in any case, to the degree of benefit to be derived by the different persons concerned.

Penalties 10.Subject to such right of appeal as above, if you are required by this Notice to take measures and you fail to comply within the period thereby limited, the Council may itself take the required measures and recover from you, the expenses reasonably incurred by it in so doing. The expenses and interest accrued thereon shall, until recovered, be a charge on the premises.

12.In any proceedings brought by the Council against you for the recovery of any expenses that the Council is entitled to recover, it shall not be open to you to raise any question which you could have raised on appeal.

25 Appendix C: Key regional and national stakeholders

National Government

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) Affairs (Defra) Fixed network Unit (Telecoms Division) Local Environmental Quality Team 151 Buckingham Palace Road Ashdown House London SW1W 9SS 123 Victoria Street Tel: 020 7215 5000 London SW1E 6DE [email protected] Tel: 08459 33 55 77 www.dti.gov.uk [email protected] www.defra.gov.uk Department for Transport (DfT) Department for Transport Home Office Great Minister House Anti Social Behaviour Unit (Together 76 Marsham Street Campaign) London SW1P 4DR Peel Building Tel: 020 7944 8300 2 Marsham Street www.dft.gov.uk London SW1P 4DF Tel: 0870 220 2000 [email protected] www.together.gov.uk

Regional Government

Greater London Authority (GLA) Government Office for London (GOL) City Hall Riverwalk House The Queen’s Walk 157-161 Millbank London SE1 2AA London SW1P 4RR Tel: 020 7983 4100 Tel: 020 7217 3328 [email protected] [email protected] www.london.gov.uk www.go-london.gov.uk

Local Government Associations

Association of London Government (ALG) Local Government Association (LGA) 1 59 /2 Southwark Street Local Government House London SE1 0AL Smith Square Tel: 020 7934 9999 London SW1P 3HZ www.alg.gov.uk Tel: 020 7664 3131 [email protected] www.lga.gov.uk

26 London Boroughs

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham London Borough of Croydon Civic centre Taberner House Rainham Road North Park Lane Dagenham Croydon Essex RM10 7BN Surrey CR9 3JS Tel: 020 8592 4500 Tel: 020 8686 4433 www.lbbd.gov.uk www.croydon.gov.uk

London Borough of Barnet London Borough of Ealing Hendon Town Hall Perceval House The Burroughs 14/16 Uxbridge Road London NW4 4BG London W5 2HL Tel: 020 8359 2000 Tel: 020 8825 5000 www.barnet.gov.uk www.ealing.gov.uk

London Borough of Bexley London Borough of Enfield Civic Offices Civic Centre Bexleyheath Silver Street Kent DA6 7LB Enfield Tel: 020 8303 7777 Middlesex EN1 3XA www.bexley.gov.uk Tel: 020 8379 1000 www.enfield.gov.uk London Borough of Brent Town Hall London Borough of Greenwich Forty Lane Town Hall Wembley Wellington Street Middlesex HA9 9HD London SE18 6PW Tel: 020 8937 1234 Tel: 020 8854 8888 www.brent.gov.uk www.greenwich.gov.uk

London Borough of Bromley London Borough of Hackney Civic Centre Town Hall Stockwell Close Mare Street Bromley London E8 1EA Kent BR1 3UH Tel: 020 8356 5000 Tel: 020 8464 3333 www.hackney.gov.uk www.bromley.gov.uk London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough of Camden Town Hall Town Hall King Street Judd Street London W6 9JU London WC1H 9JE Tel: 020 8748 3020 Tel: 020 7974 4444 www.lbhf.gov.uk www.camden.gov.uk

27 London Borough of Haringey Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Civic Centre Town Hall High Road Hornton Street London N22 8LE London W8 7NX Tel: 020 8489 0000 Tel: 020 7937 5464 www.haringey.gov.uk www.rbkc.gov.uk

London Borough of Harrow Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames Civic Centre Guildhall Station Road Kingston upon Thames Harrow Surrey KT1 1EU Middlesex HA1 2UW Tel: 020 7937 5464 Tel: 020 8863 5611 www.rbkc.gov.uk www.harrow.gov.uk London Borough of Lambeth London Borough of Havering Town Hall Town Hall Brixton Hill Main Road Lambeth Romford London SW2 1RW Essex RM1 3BD Tel: 020 7926 1000 Tel: 01708 434343 www.lambeth.gov.uk www.havering.gov.uk London Borough of Lewisham London Borough of Hillingdon Town Hall Civic Centre Catford High Street London SE6 4RU Uxbridge Tel: 020 8314 6000 Middlesex UB8 1UW www.lewisham.gov.uk Tel: 01895 250111 www.hillingdon.gov.uk London Borough of Merton Civic Centre London Borough of Hounslow London Road Civic Centre Morden Lampton Road Surrey SM4 5DX Hounslow Tel: 020 8274 4901 Middlesex TW3 4DN www.merton.gov.uk Tel: 020 8583 2000 www.hounslow.gov.uk London Borough of Newham Newham Town Hall London Borough of Islington East Ham Town Hall London E6 2RP Upper Street Tel: 020 8430 2000 London N1 2UD www.newham.gov.uk Tel: 020 7527 2000 www.islington.gov.uk

28 London Borough of Redbridge London Borough of Waltham Forest Town Hall Town Hall High Road Forest Road Ilford London E17 4JF Essex IG1 1DD Tel: 020 8496 3000 Tel: 020 8554 5000 www.lbwf.gov.uk www.redbridge.gov.uk London Borough of Wandsworth London Borough of Richmond Town Hall Civic Centre Wandsworth High Street York Street London SW18 2PU Twickenham Tel: 020 8871 6000 Surrey TW1 3BZ www.wandsworth.gov.uk Tel: 020 8891 1411 www.richmond.gov.uk City of Westminster Westminster City Hall London Borough of Southwark 64 Victoria Street Town Hall London SW1E 6QP Peckham Road Tel: 020 7641 6000 London SE5 8UB www.westminster.gov.uk Tel: 020 7525 5000 www.southwark.gov.uk Corporation of London Guildhall London Borough of Sutton London EC2P 2EJ Civic Offices Tel: 020 7606 3030 St Nicholas Way www.cityoflondon.gov.uk Sutton Surrey SM1 1EA Tel: 020 8770 5000 www.sutton.gov.uk

London Borough of Tower Hamlets Mulberry Place 5 Clove Crescent London E14 2BG Tel: 020 7364 5000 www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

29 Relevant Regional Bodies

London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Transport for London (TFL) (LFEPA) Windsor House Hampton Housing 42-50 Victoria Street 20 Albert Embankment SW1H 0TL London SE1 7SD Tel: 020 7941 4500 Tel: 020 7587 2000 [email protected] [email protected] www.tfl.gov.uk www.london-fire.gov.uk

Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) 10 Dean Farrar Street London SW1H 9NY Tel: 020 7202 0202 [email protected] www.mpa.gov.uk

Police, Fire and Ambulance

British Transport Police London Fire Brigade HQ 15 Tavistock Place, 8 Albert Embankment London WC1H 9SJ London SE1 7SD Tel: 020 7830 8800 Tel: 020 7587 2000 [email protected] [email protected] www.btp.police.uk www.london-fire.gov.uk

City of London Police Metropolitan Police PO Box 36451 New Scotland Yard London EC2M 4WN Broadway Tel: 020 7601 2222 London SW1H 0BG [email protected] Tel: 020 7230 1212 www.cityoflondon.police.uk [email protected] www.met.police.uk London Ambulance Service HQ 220 Waterloo Road Royal Parks Constabulary London SE1 8SD Old Police House Tel: 020 7921 5277 Hyde Park [email protected] London W2 2UH www.londonambulance.nhs.uk Tel: 020 7298 2000 www.royalparks.gov.uk

30 Unless otherwise stated the addresses given in these appendices are head office addresses:

Protected parties

BRB [Residuary] Ltd Network Rail Whittles House 40 Melton Street 14 Pentonville Road London NW1 2EE London N1 9RP Tel: 020 7557 8000 Tel: 020 7904 5100 www.networkrail.co.uk www.brb.gov.uk Transport for London (TFL) British Waterways Windsor House Willow Grange 42-50 Victoria Street Church Road London SW1H 0TL Watford Tel: 020 7941 4500 Hertfordshire WD17 4QA [email protected] Tel: 01923 201120 www.tfl.gov.uk [email protected] www.britishwaterways.co.uk

British Waterways London (regional office) 1 Sheldon Square Paddington Central London W2 6TT Tel: 020 7985 7200 [email protected]

31 Universal postal service providers

Royal Mail Group plc Together with: 148 Old Street • the exact location of the letterbox or postal London EC1V 9HQ pouch box • the unique identifier (in the case of a Copies of any notices should be sent to: letterbox) which is the number printed in the Property Law Department bottom left hand corner of the information sheet Royal Mail Property Holdings on the box eg SE23 123 First Floor • description of the problem i.e. graffiti or Impact House flyposting 2 Edridge Road • whether the object is offensive. Croydon Surrey CR9 1PJ Not all Post Offices are owned by Royal Mail with the majority being Sub-Post Offices in private Royal Mail Graffiti Local Authority Helpline: ownership. In the case of Sub Offices the owner 0870 242 2922 or occupier of the premises should be contacted. Similarly any removal notice should be served on The helpline is for Local Authorities (only) to the owner or occupier not Royal Mail. report graffiti and flyposting on letterboxes and postal pouch boxes.

The caller will be asked to provide: • their name; • their position; • the relevant Council; • and a contact telephone number.

32 Relevant undertakers in London’s public realm

Transport

Transport for London (TFL) BAA – Heathrow Airport Limited Windsor House 234 Bath Road 42-50 Victoria Street Hayes London SW1H 0TL Middlesex UB3 5AP Tel: 020 7941 4500 Tel: 0870 0000 123 [email protected] www.baa.co.uk www.tfl.gov.uk

Port of London Authority Baker’s Hall 7 Harp Lane London EC3R 6LB Tel: 020 7743 7900 [email protected] www.portoflondon.co.uk

Telecoms

British Telecommunications plc Telewest Broadband & Flextech TV Public Policy 160 Great Portland Street BT Wholesale London W1W 5QA 81 Newgate Street Tel: 020 7299 5309 London EC1A 7AJ www.telewest.co.uk Tel: 0131 448 7098 BT Street cabinets: Tel: 0141 636 1843 NTL BT Buildings: Tel: 0800 22 33 88 Contracts and Streetworks Support (CASS) ntl: Customer Operations and Business Cable & Wireless plc Improvement (COBI) 124 Theobalds Road ntl Neptune Point London WC1X 8RX Unit E Tel: 020 7315 4000 Neptune Point www.cw.com off Nettleford Road Cardiff CF24 5JQ Clearchannel UK Ltd Tel: 01292 030 5375 Operations and Developments Departments www.ntl.com 33 Golden Square London W1F 9JT Tel: 020 7478 2200 www.clearchannel .co.uk

33 Utilities

Thames Water Utilities Ltd London Energy Gainsborough House EDF Energy Manor Farm Road Heath, Safety and Environment Branch Reading 40 Grosvenor Place Berkshire RG2 OJN London SW1X 7AW Tel: 0118 959 1159 www.thames-water.com National Grid NGT House Three Valleys Water plc. Warwick Technology Park PO Box 48 Gallows Hill Bishops Rise Warwick CV34 6DA Hatfield Tel: 01926 653000 Hertfordshire AL10 9HL www.nationalgrid.com Tel: 01707 268 111 www.3valleys.co.uk

Others

English Heritage (London Region) Royal Parks Agency Customer Service The Old Police House PO Box 569 Hyde Park Swindon London W2 2UH Wiltshire SN2 2YP Tel: 020 7298 2000 Tel: 0870 3331181 [email protected] [email protected] www.royalparks.gov.uk www.english-heritage.org.uk

34 Other interested bodies

ENCAMS Association of Train Operating Companies Elizabeth House 3rd Floor The Pier 40 Bernard Street Wigan London WC1N 1BY Greater Manchester WN3 4EX Tel: 020 7841 8000 Tel: 01942 612 621 www.atoc.org.uk www.encams.org Highways Agency London Chamber of Commerce & Industry 123 Buckingham Palace Road 33 Queen Street London SW1 9HA London EC4R 1AP Tel: 020 7081 7905 Tel: 020 7248 4444 [email protected] [email protected] www.highways.gov.uk www.londonchamber.co.uk Living Streets (formerly Pedestrians Association) Environment Agency (Thames Region) 31-33 Bondway Appollo Court London SW8 1SJ 2 Bishops Square Business Park, Tel: 020 7820 1010 St Albans Road [email protected] West Hatfield, www.livingstreets.org.uk Hertfordshire AL10 9EX Tel: 01707 632300 [email protected] www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Housing Corporation (London region) Maple House 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7BN Tel: 020 7393 2000 [email protected] www.housingcorp.gov.uk

35 Association of London Government 1 59 /2 Southwark Street London SE1 0AL Tel 020 7934 9916 [email protected] www.alg.gov.uk

©Published by the Association of London Government, Transport and Environment Committee, 21 July 2005.