Hoorn is regularly filled with graffiti. A thorn in the side of many and the municipality is at a loss as to how to tackle this. It is almost impossible to impose penalties and the cleaning costs are considerable. In the meantime, the municipality hopes to turn the tide with a new policy.
That’s how it was last week Juliana Park. Benches, trash cans, shelters and traffic signs are full of graffiti. Various texts and the letters ‘KR’ are clearly visible.
Last January, the municipality made a sum of the number of graffiti tags. That was then about 5,000 small graffiti tags and 100 larger ones. Cost to remove it such 800,000 euros. “All this destruction not only causes irritation, but the costs are also considerable. The social unrest and resistance that is caused is worrying,” said mayor Jan Nieuwenburg in a letter to the council.
Little effect measures
The municipality is trying to do everything possible to punish graffiti sprayers. No fewer than seven people who were allegedly involved in the graffiti have received a letter in the past two years. In most cases, warnings have been issued. But two graffiti sprayers have also been caught in the act. The next time they have to cough up 5,000 euros per violation.
“However, the penalty payments seem to have little effect on the graffiti sprayers”
“However, the penalty payments seem to have little effect on the graffiti sprayers. Graffiti destruction continues,” the mayor of Hoorn continues.
Ultimately, it is difficult to prosecute and bring graffiti sprayers to justice. There must be clear evidence that the graffiti sprayer in question has also sprayed something. For example, the municipality was ultimately unable to collect two penalty payments. “The suspect was acquitted due to a lack of evidence,” says Nieuwenburg.
Watch the report below from Horinees Jason who hung up cameras himself two years ago, because he is completely done with the graffiti (text continues below the video):
Local resident Jason is completely done with the graffiti and has therefore taken action himself – NH News
New policy in the making
The municipality of Hoorn is clearly in trouble with the graffiti nuisance. “We remain committed to tackling the destruction caused by graffiti. The approach has a high priority for the police and our supervisors. If our property is destroyed, we also report this to the police as standard,” says Mayor Nieuwenburg.
To better combat the nuisance caused by the graffiti, the municipality is preparing a new policy plan, which focuses on how to deal with it. “We also take into account whether the graffiti is offensive, on which objects it has been placed (private or municipal objects) and within what period the graffiti will be removed.”
Delete together
A few weeks ago, the municipal council of Hoorn proposed to the municipal executive to remove the graffiti with a large group on Saturday, May 27. This initiative is supported by the mayor. According to Nieuwenburg, this sends an important signal to residents about how important it is to them.
Nieuwenburg: “We also continue to involve our residents and call on them to report suspicious situations immediately to the police or the municipality. We also continue to call on residents to make videos on the basis of which a red-handed situation can be deduced.”