Latest on scourge of South Tyneside graffiti 'making people feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods'

Data obtained via a Freedom of Information request reveals the scale of the issue across the borough, with graffiti categorised into “offensive” and “non-offensive” types.

In recent years, the local authority has worked to raise awareness of graffiti, including “encouraging residents to take responsibility and report incidents” along with delivering leaflets to properties “most targeted”, according to its website.

The council also states it aims to remove graffiti as soon as possible and will “prioritise offensive graffiti” and at a scrutiny meeting last year (2024), councillors heard the council aims to remove offensive graffiti within 24 hours, and non-offensive graffiti within five days, with graffiti removal costing the council around £100,000 a year.

While acknowledging that some graffiti is “seen as a legitimate art form”, the Our Place Scrutiny Committee noted the majority of graffiti appearing on streets is “poor quality tagging”, which “defaces the public realm.”

South Tyneside Council’s online graffiti reporting tool asks respondents to classify the “nature of the graffiti” as either “political, racist, very offensive, or other”, as well as asking for a description of the graffiti, its location and whether it is on a council or private property.

FOI data provided by the council covers the last five full financial years and the current financial year (2025/26) between April 1, 2025 and October 30, 2025.

Between April 1, 2020 and October 30, 2025, there have been 1,806 graffiti incidents reported across South Tyneside.

Of this number, around half were classed as “offensive” graffiti (806 incidents), with more than 120 offensive graffiti incidents already reported this financial year.

Data also shows that offensive graffiti incidents have fluctuated in recent years, with 120 incidents in 2022/23, 195 incidents in 2023/24 and 156 incidents in 2024/25.

The overall number of graffiti incidents, including both offensive and non-offensive graffiti, also shows fluctuations year on year, ranging from a lowest number of 277 in 2022/23 up to a high point of 386 in 2023/24.

In the Freedom of Information request, South Tyneside Council was asked to break down the graffiti reports into relevant categories including “racist graffiti” and to provide the highest number of graffiti incidents per electoral ward.

However, the council’s FOI response said the council “do not categorise the graffiti and do not hold the information currently by ward.”

Councillor Ernest Gibson, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change at South Tyneside Council, responding to the FOI figures, said the council takes the issue of graffiti “very seriously”.

“Offensive graffiti can take many forms, from racist and homophobic slurs to other abusive or hateful language and imagery,” Cllr Gibson said.

“Our staff work hard to remove reported incidents of graffiti as quickly as possible, recognising the distress it can cause to individuals and the wider community.

“Offensive graffiti not only damages property but also undermines community pride and cohesion and can make people feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.

“Tackling graffiti places significant demands on council resources, both in terms of staff time and the costs of removal.

“We are committed to responding swiftly, particularly where offensive graffiti is concerned, but we know that prevention is just as important as enforcement.

“That’s why we undertook a scrutiny commission to look at how we tackle graffiti across South Tyneside.

“This resulted in a number of recommendations, including exploring the use of approved artwork sites to provide positive outlets for creativity and help deter illegal graffiti.

“We are also working closely with our communities, schools, and partners to raise awareness and encourage reporting.

“We want everyone in South Tyneside to feel proud of where they live.

“By working together, we can tackle graffiti, support community cohesion, and ensure our borough remains a welcoming and vibrant place for all.”

South Tyneside Council’s scrutiny commission on graffiti defined it as “drawings or writing done on a wall or structure in a public place without permission” and noted it was regarded as criminal damage.

Although the Our Place Scrutiny Committee agreed the council’s practices around graffiti removal were working well, councillors made recommendations of initiatives and actions which could help in the fight against graffiti.

One proposal included a managed approach to street art by having dedicated ‘urban art sites’, with the ‘tolerated’ graffiti sites developed in collaboration with community groups and residents through the council’s community area forums, with the aim of providing graffiti artists with dedicated space to use.

A council cabinet report previously stated the future sites “should only be in locations which are in fitting with the area and surroundings”, such as skateparks or “appropriate underpasses”.

Other recommendations included extra training around the management of graffiti removal, “enhanced” council communications around the issue and work with the Home Office and Probation Service to identify where schemes such as community payback could be used to tackle graffiti issues.

Another suggestion to cabinet included organisations signed up to the South Tyneside Pledge network being able to “sponsor graffiti removal across the borough” by, for example, “donating supplies and equipment.”

South Tyneside Council’s website defines graffiti as “words, drawings or ‘tags’ that are written, painted, sprayed or scratched on the surface of any property”.

The council adds: “Graffiti vandalism is against the law, a cost to you and your neighbours and a drain on the services provided by South Tyneside Council.

“The council has zero-tolerance to graffiti vandalism and is launching measures to raise awareness and take action against offenders.

“We ask for your help to crackdown on this anti-social behaviour by reporting graffiti if you see it and to stop it spreading to your home.”

Graffiti can be reported anonymously online to South Tyneside Council and for more information, visit the council’s website here.