Graffitiprävention durch Eigentümerförderung

Although Graffiti prevention is typically sprayer-centered, some municipalities are implementing a victim-centered approach as well. Instead of providing “legal spray areas,” a victim-centered approach offers financial support to homeowners who choose to remove illegal graffiti, thus encouraging them to clean affected areas. The study presents both a theoretical and empirical analysis of the victim-centered approach as it operates with the project “Schmierflink” in the city of Augsburg. After evaluating interviews of a multitude of actors in the graffiti “world”, including people from the illegal scene, this study concludes that shifting the focus toward victims makes sense. Nonetheless, it is likely still necessary to embed this victim-centered approach in a comprehensive prevention paradigm.