Environmental Crime: Graffiti - Assignment Example

 Environmental Crime: Graffiti Introduction: Graffiti is defined as a pictorial or lettered composition produced hastily by scratching, scrawling or painting by hand on a wall or other enduring materials. The history of graffiti dates back to prehistoric times and it was widespread even in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Graffiti was used by cavemen to communicate and mark their territories. Moreover, in prehistoric times, graffiti was extensively used as it was an easy way to record the existence and successes of a famous individual. During the Age of Enlightenment, graffiti was extensively used by artists and writers because it was an unarmed and effective way of propagating French revolution by expressing views on walls and urban buildings. Views on graffiti have always been controversial; certain individuals classify graffiti as art while others consider it nothing but vandalism and degradation of the environment. Most individuals consider graffiti a unique form of living art. A characteristic feature of modern graffiti is tagging. Tagging is defined as a chronic itch of a writer or an artist to mark his graffiti with his signature. Usually, tagging is associated with graffiti produced on prominent buildings in a city. In modern society, graffiti has evolved as cultural movement and the different styles used prove that graffiti is more than just vandalism; it is a striking form of living art. Throughout the 1970’s and mid 1980’s, ideological graffiti was employed by students and labors to express dissatisfaction of political conditions of Europe. The Nazis, during World War II, extensively used graffiti to threaten their opponents. (PEREIRA, S. 2005). Modern graffiti is highly complicated and has many different styles. Each gang has its own style of writing. The most common graffiti styles are Chinese graff style, Wiggles Bboy style, Softy letter style and Puzzle style. In London, Shadow style W 3D and Flava wildstyle are also common. (BINGHAM, J.2010). Types of graffiti: The major types of graffiti are listed below: i. Ideological graffiti: Graffiti which is used to express dissatisfaction towards the political conditions in a country is known as ideological graffiti. (HAGAN, F. E. 2008). ii. Hip Hop graffiti: Hip Hop graffiti is characterized by the creation of large pieces which are also known as graffiti masterpieces. The creation of hip hop graffiti pieces involves the use of diverse colors and is usually formed using aerosol spray cans. Usually, hip hop graffiti pieces consist of cartoon or lettered compositions. Formation of hip hop graffiti is time consuming and is usually the result of extensive thought and planning. iii. Tagger graffiti: Tagger graffiti is a combination of high volume simple hits and highly complicated abstracts. (BINGHAM, J.2010). iv. Opportunistic Graffiti: Opportunistic graffiti is defined as a pictorial or lettered composition produced impulsively by the graffitist. The location for opportunistic graffiti is also selected impulsively. Therefore, such graffiti is not pre planned. (BINGHAM, J.2010). v. Gang graffiti: Gang members use characteristic graffiti to mark their turf and to threaten citizens with abusive lettered graffiti. Gang graffiti can either be pre planned or it may be created impulsively. (BINGHAM, J.2010). vi. Commercial graffiti: Many individuals view commercial graffiti as a civic problem. Large private organizations hire experienced graffiti writers or artists or create advertising logos or promotional messages on walls and urban buildings. Government authorities classify commercial graffiti as illegal. (BINGHAM, J.2010). Factors associated with Graffiti: The problem of graffiti is not an isolated one and is therefore associated with other envirocrimes. Certain environment specific factors cause an increase in graffiti. Such factors include the failure of government to identify and punish law breakers, rising unemployment rates and failure of welfare system. Graffiti and stress have a strong correlation. Therefore, all factors which elevate stress levels also cause an increase in graffiti. It has been observed that Graffiti is more common in areas where people do not have an access to dignified jobs which inevitably leads to increased gang activity. The increase in gang activity leads to increased appearance of graffiti on deserted streets and prominent urban buildings. Graffiti is associated with a wide variety of other crimes and disorders. Such disorders include: Public disorder, shoplifting of materials used in formation of graffiti, gang violence and property destruction. Graffiti is accompanied with the destruction of property. Graffiti writers or artists often indulge in the destruction of property such as slashing train and bus seats. (Environmental crime 2004). Envirocrime and Graffiti: Envirocrime is refers to a wide variety of disorders such as littering, fly posting, fly tipping and graffiti. Therefore, envirocrime is a broad term and encompasses varying types of disorders which damage the environment. Envirocrimes are a debilitating problem, as they plague a society in a multi dimensional manner. Such crimes are committed by gangs or teenagers and the effects are suffered by the whole community. It has been observed over the past few years, that despite strict enforcement policies, envirocrimes continue to rise. Regeneration and neighborhood renewal projects suffer extensively at the hands of envirocrime committers. Destruction of property, accumulated litter and graffiti not only reduce the quality of life but also decrease tourist attraction. Governmental and non governmental authorities need to coordinate in order to significantly decrease envirocrimes. Government officials and policy makers need to identify the key areas of concern and concentrate attention on the removal of such concerns. Authorities need to realize the importance of promoting public awareness about the devastating effects of envirocrimes. Actions which promote public awareness are the introduction of Environmental Education Packages in curriculums and holding Anti Litter campaigns. (Environmental crime 2004). Geographical location of graffiti in London: Graffiti is widespread in London. Tourism authorities organize special graffiti tours for tourists. South Bank, Old Street, Stockwell and Mile End are some of the best graffiti locations in London. Both legal and illegal graffiti can be spotted on side streets and buildings of the east end of London. Furthermore, Brick Lane, Hackney and Bethnal Green are also prime locations of some of the London’s most striking graffiti masterpieces. The area extending from the Old Street tube station to the Charlotte Road and Leake Street is home to some of the most beautiful stenciled graffiti pieces. Opportunistic graffiti and Hip Hop graffiti is widespread on the streets and buildings of Central London, North London and Exmouth market. Furthermore, popular streets such as Rivington and Batman’s Row are home to numerous sky invader graffiti pieces. (BULL, M., & BANKSY. 2009). Graffiti and Geographical Information System: Geographical information system or geospatial information system was developed in Southern California. Geographical information system or GIS is used with Graffiti Abatement Tool to track down gang writers and evaluate the total cost of removing graffiti from a specific location. GIS is a combination of three advanced technologies: cartography, statistical analysis and database technology. GIS along with GAT forms a highly efficient system which is capable of integrating, storing, editing, analyzing and displaying geographical information. Local police use GIS analysis in order to identify artists by detecting their specific monikers. The information revealed by the analysis is then used to catch and prosecute graffiti artists and writers. Furthermore, taggers are stored and uploaded on the GIS databases. Taggers are highly important in the success of a crack down operation because taggers convey crucial information of the affiliated gang. Graffiti removing experts take pictures of the piece before removing it and these pictures are stored and uploaded in the GIS database. The system then edits the photos to reveal crucial information and then analyzes and interprets the information obtained. Such information is very important effectively reducing gang activity and the production of graffiti on walls and urban buildings. GAT stores the cost required for the removal of each piece. Thus, the stored information reveals the total amount of money used to remove graffiti from a city. The removal of Graffiti from United States of America cost about $2 million each year. (WEISEL, D. L. 2006). Conclusion: Graffiti is blight to a society and not only reduces the attractiveness of a city but also psychologically affects the individuals living in a society. (REISNER, R. G.1967). Despite rigorous measures taken by the government and the development of advance tracking system, graffiti remains one of the most persistent envirocrimes. It has been observed that new graffiti pieces appear soon after the previous ones have been removed. Famous streets and buildings in London are littered with sky invader graffiti pieces. Failure of the government and policy makers is reflected when extensive graffiti is prevalent a city. Graffiti pollutes and destructs the visual environment and is therefore one of the most serious envirocrimes. The issue of graffiti and envirocrimes will not be solved by tracking down the vandals and prosecuting them. The problem will only be solved when the factors leading to envirocrimes are elevated. Therefore, in order to eradicate envirocrimes, the government needs to ensure the provision of dignified jobs and draw up policies for the introduction of Environmental Education packages in schools to increase the awareness of debilitating effects of environcrimes on the roots of a society. (WEISEL, D. L. 2006). References: PEREIRA, S. (2005). Graffiti. Paris, Fitway. HOUSE OF COMMONS ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT COMMITTEE. (2004). Environmental crime: fly-tipping, fly-posting, litter, graffiti and noise. London, Authority of the House of Commons. BULL, M., & BANKSY. (2009). Banksy locations and tours. Oakland, Calif, PM Press. REISNER, R. G. (1967). Graffiti. New York, Parallax Pub. Co. WEISEL, D. L. (2006). Graffiti. Washington, D.C., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. HAGAN, F. E. (2008). Introduction to criminology: theories, methods, and criminal behavior. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications. BINGHAM, J. (2010). Graffiti. Chicago, Ill, Raintree. Read More