The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has expressed concern to the BBC about its portrayal of the issue of graffiti in recent weeks.

The digital radio channel 1Xtra recently featured a documentary which focused very much on the ‘positive’ aspects of graffiti, for example the skills involved and the satisfaction individuals experience in making their artistic mark in this way. The ‘other side’ of the argument was largely restricted to what graffiti artists experience when something goes wrong, for example getting caught by the police or having an accident. There was no serious exploration of the anti-social aspects of graffiti such as the damage to people’s property and creating an atmosphere that helps to encourage crime and makes members of the public feel less safe.

This documentary has appeared in tandem with a new animated cartoon series (Taggerz) on the website of 1Xtra which features a group of young people regularly involved in illegal graffiti writing. The mood and stylised version of the cartoon presentation, coupled with the music, all add up to create an image that young people may find attractive and choose to identify with.

CIWM believes that it is irresponsible to treat the subject matter in this way, particularly in view of the fact that a small proportion of society already seem to have difficulty in registering that this is a criminal act in the same way as shoplifting or burglary and for whom the ‘street cred’ aspects outweigh any legal considerations.

John Skidmore, chairman of the CIWM Waste Collection, Recycling and Environmental Cleansing Group, comments: ‘This programming seems extraordinary, particularly in light of the growing concern about graffiti illustrated by ASBOs and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.  The BBC is a public service and should not let the pressure to be ‘cool’ cause it to throw responsible behaviour out of the window.’