Illegal sprayers are under attack, according to the Minister of Interior's statements.
In the city of Bremen, the impact of illegal graffiti on neighborhoods has become a significant concern. The unsightly vandalism not only alters the visual character of an area, potentially reducing property values and affecting residents' quality of life, but it also gives the impression of a higher crime rate, even if actual crime levels are low.
To combat this issue, Bremen is taking a multi-faceted approach. City officials are engaging with local artists and residents to encourage sanctioned street art projects, implementing regular graffiti removal programs, and educating the public about the legal and social implications of graffiti, while enforcing laws against vandalism.
One of the city's initiatives involves working with the Hoppenbank association to clean and repaint a transformer station in Schulstraße, which has been extensively smeared by graffiti. This effort is seen as a win-win situation, as it not only improves the cityscape but also supports the Hoppenbank association.
However, the fight against illegal graffiti is far from over. swb, which maintains over 1,600 transformer stations, switchgear houses, transformer stations, and other technical facilities in the Bremen city area, has prioritized cleaning work on its facilities where unconstitutional slogans appear or residents feel disturbed.
Interior Senator Ulrich Maurer, who has taken a stand against the illegal graffiti scene in Bremen, believes that the fight against paint vandalism is a marathon. He is open to testing the implementation of cameras in the future to deter perpetrators.
Unfortunately, even high fences have not prevented the sprayers from coming back at night. The school management and IB Bremen, as the owner of the police station in Schulstraße, have similar experiences with paint vandalism. A recently painted area was smeared again within a short time.
At a press conference held at the Leibnizplatz high school in the Neustadt, Senator Maurer and other officials discussed the issue, expressing concerns about graffiti workshops for youth, which some believe may inadvertently foster illegal graffiti.
The neighborhoods of Viertel and Neustadt are particularly affected by illegal graffiti in Bremen. The South Bath is heavily affected by paint vandalism, with examples including memorials, private houses, protected facades, cemetery walls, signs, power boxes, and benches.
Perpetrators face civil law claims for damages for 30 years, but the cost of the damage is immense. swb is conscious of its responsibility for a well-maintained cityscape in Bremen and is determined to continue its efforts to combat illegal graffiti.
City officials in Bremen have recognized the importance of addressing illegal graffiti as a part of their policy-and-legislation and politics, given its impact on neighborhoods and quality of life. To tackle this issue, they are implementing strategies ranging from collaborating with local artists and residents on sanctioned street art projects, to enforcing laws against vandalism and using education and public awareness campaigns. Meanwhile, the South Bath neighborhood in Bremen, particularly Viertel and Neustadt, continues to face an ongoing problem with crime-and-justice issues related to graffiti, with examples including memorials, private houses, and cemetery walls.