A recent survey carried out by Keep Wales Tidy identified that graffiti was present on an average of 12% of Welsh streets. In March 2009, Keep Wales Tidy launched a campaign to highlight the problem which is blighting so many of our streets. A guide to graffiti and the law, titled ‘Graffiti- Crime not 
Art’, was created (copies are free to order here and can be downloaded here). Also an Action Plan was assembled which outlines ways to tackle the problem (a copy of which can be downloaded here). The campaign was launched in Aberavon, and involved volunteers from Daclus Sandfields Aberafon and Neath Port Talbot Youth Crime Department. The campaign gained wide media attention on television, radio and in print, as it got the nation debating the effects graffiti has on society.
What is Graffiti?
The most common targets for graffiti are blank walls, street furniture, lampposts, telephone boxes, bus shelters, road signs, monuments, bridges and railway property. There are several sub categories of graffiti, which include:
Tagging - A stylised personal signature, name, mark, symbol or logo) usually written with a marker pen or spray paint
Slogans – Wall scribblings which contain words or messages, often conveying offensive, racist, religious, sexual or political messages.
Murals - Large, complex lettering, animation or bold images
Etching - Etching involves scratching into glass, plastic or paintwork with a knife, screw or other sharp implement; or using chemicals to burn or dissolve a surface
Why is Graffiti a problem?
The presence of graffiti can: 
• Promote a perception in the community that laws protecting public and private property can be disregarded.
• Foster a sense of disrespect for private property that may result in increasing crime, community degradation and urban blight.
• Make an area look neglected, attracting more anti-social behaviour such as flytipping and litter.
• Adversely affect property values, business opportunities and the enjoyment of community.
• Increase the fear of crime, and can make people feel uncomfortable/threatened especially by the display of offensive material whether racist, sexist or otherwise explicit.
• Affect trade, tourism and investment in the surrounding area as it is often in prominent locations.
What can I do?
If you become aware of graffiti on public property, you can call your local council or notify the police. The council should then either:- 
• Make arrangements for the removal of the material from places such as public buildings, street furniture and monuments, or
• Contact the owner or company of e.g. telephone boxes, bus shelters, and street cabinets, such as electricity boxes to request the removal of the graffiti.
A recent conference focused on the issues surrounding graffiti. Delegates were asked to consider the differences between artistic graffiti and criminal vandalism, why it happens and why it can be a problem, and to think of practical steps that can be taken to prevent illegal graffiti. Graffiti removal company Nordic Pioneer gave a demonstration and graffiti artist Brad Woods talked about his work with young artists.
There was broad agreement that there are distinctly different types of graffiti, ranging from childish scribbles to repetitive tags, social comments and more artistic pieces. Each type was seen to warrant a different form of management.
The main conclusions from the day were that illegal graffiti is a problem that needs to be addressed because its presence can encourage crime and antisocial behaviour. We need to find out why graffiti is more prevalent in some areas and find a way of trying to monitor the sale of aerosol sprays. Graffiti has existed for thousands of years so can never be fully eradicated but it should be monitored so that it is used as a positive and artistic expression rather than something that is offensive and threatening. It was highlighted that in some instances, communities should be provided with spaces where graffiti art can legally be displayed.
Better relationships are needed between local authorities, the voluntary sector and communities so that we can alleviate this problem and make people proud of where they live. Using information from the event , including a questionnaire completed by delegates, Keep Wales Tidy intends to review its graffiti policy and produce an updated action report.