Dealing with vandalism - a guide to the control of vandalism

Vandalism is the wilful damage of property, often owned by local or public authorities. It is an anonymous offence with a low rate of detection and conviction and causes annoyance and aggravation to property owners and managers. Dealing with it diverts vital funding away from more constructive uses and, with some types of vandalism such as interference with safety devices, can causes injury and death. This publication illustrates the problems of vandalism and shows how solutions have been developed through good management practices and selection of appropriate material and design. It provides practical guidance for managers and those responsible for the operation and maintenance of property and publicly accessible facilities of measures that have been shown to work in practice. The implementation of vandalism prevention programmes is described, and design strategies that assist in controlling vandal activity are identified.