The number of complaints about graffiti in Barcelona increased by almost 48% in 2023 compared to the previous year, going from 328 to 484. At the same time, the amounts of the sanctions increased by more than 66%, especially as a result of the application of the maximum punishment provided for by the civility ordinance, which is established at 500 euros per violation.
These are some data from the balance sheet made public today by the Deputy Mayor for Security, Albert Batlle, in a press conference in which he reported on the launch of the new graffiti and graffiti cleaning contract and in which has insisted that this issue is a priority for the government chaired by the socialist mayor Jaume Collboni included in the Plan Endreça to improve the cleaning and maintenance of public spaces.
Barcelona City Council has launched the new contract for cleaning graffiti and paint stains, removing posters and removing banners and other elements from public roads with a total amount of 16 million euros for the years 2024 and 2025, 17% more than the last contract.
The new contract allows for an increase of more than 30% in the number of personnel dedicated to graffiti removal, reaching up to 36 teams.
One of the most notable novelties of the contract is that, for the first time, it includes the cleaning of graffiti from furniture and other elements such as fountains, planters, information stands, railings, bicycle parking or plaques with the name of the street.
In addition, the cleaning of facades of heritage buildings with a level of protection such as Cultural Asset of Local Interest, Asset of Urban Planning Interest or Asset of Documentary Interest (protection D, C and B) is also incorporated. Buildings classified as Cultural Assets of National Interest that require more specific cleaning work are excluded.
The new contract also incorporates a new work methodology that will optimize results and improve the perception of cleanliness. Until now, the planning of the tasks had been done through the detection of the graffiti by the municipal teams and the requests that came from the citizens. In addition to this planning, more areas are now incorporated where cleaning will be carried out with a certain frequency.
Some areas have been determined in each district where the frequency of graffiti cleaning will be done every 4 months in general, but reaching monthly cleaning in those places where it is necessary. Municipal buildings, markets, parks and gardens and urban structures have also been incorporated into these cleanings.
In 2023, the graffiti cleaning service carried out 110,852 actions with a total of 272,060 square meters cleaned.
One of the technological elements that the new contract incorporates is a new tag identification program that will allow graffiti by the same author to be identified. This program, which will be launched towards the month of April, will also be available to the Urban Police.
In order to increase the level of graffiti cleaning, we will work in coordination with the Urban Police, which within the framework of Pla Endreça has a greater presence of troops in public spaces.
The greater presence of troops is also accompanied by an increase in complaints within the framework of the civility ordinance, as a deterrent element. In 2023, a total of 484 complaints were filed for graffiti in public spaces or other elements, while in 2022 there were 328. This represents an increase of 47.6%. The amount of these complaints has also increased during the year 2023, going from 300 to 500 euros, 66.6%, and can reach 600 if the violation is committed by painting a heritage façade.
