Graffiti is defined by Webster' s Dictionary as "an inscription, slogan, drawing, etc., scratched, scribbled, or drawn, often crudely, on a wall or other public surface." It will always carry the name of the gang and sometimes the street name or "moniker" of the person who wrote the graffiti. If it appears that there is a list of names with the graffiti, the gang member is providing a listing of the gang members and the writer of this particular graffiti is usually the last name on the list.
It is not necessary for citizens to be able to decipher the exact meaning of graffiti, but it is important that they recognize it as gang-related and take steps to notify the police. When you come across graffiti, remember the "3 R's":
Record:
If you have been victimized by graffiti vandalism you need to record it for evidence and insurance purposes. Take photos of the vandalized area and record when it occurred. This information will be required when you report it.
Report:
Graffiti In Progress - If someone views graffiti in progress they should contact 911.
Property Owners - If a property owner discovers graffiti on their property they should contact Police at 780-423-4567.
Citizen Complaints - All citizens are encouraged to call the City of Edmonton at 780-496-8200 to report graffiti on public and private property whenever it is spotted.
Remove:
Property owners who fail to remove graffiti within a reasonable time may be fined $250 (effective April 1, 2008). Where a graffiti complaint is not voluntarily removed, a property owner may receive a fine. It's important to send graffiti offenders the message that graffiti will promptly be removed from your property.
Tagging
Graffiti can be classified into three basic types or styles that are known as togging, bombing, and piecing.
Tagging is the simplest and quickest, involving only the marking of the tagger's initials, symbol, or alias. This may be in the manner of unreadable writing or initials, often made with spray paint in large rounded bubble style letters. They can also use markers to place their initials or "tag" on a variety of surfaces. These taggers are called "writers."
Bombing takes a little more time to complete and may be multicoloured and detailed.
Piecing is the highest level and often takes extensive time and work to complete. Those who create these elaborate designs are called "piecers," after the "masterpieces" they do.
Taggers usually operate independently or in small groups of two or three, called crews. Crews will also choose their own name or symbol. The name may be comprised of 2-5 letters or numbers.
It doesn’t matter what background you come from, it is more important that you are a good writer or piecer and how daring you in getting your name or crews name "up". The goal of the tagger and their crew is to get "up" as much as possible. Therefore, tagging crews go on "bombing" raids, doing extensive damage to the community in one night. The goal of the tagger is exposure and this does not limit them to operating in any one area the community.
Differences Between Tagger and Gang Graffiti
|
Tagger Graffiti |
Gang Graffiti |
| Communication secondary, if present at all |
Intent made to communicate |
| Artistic effort a major consideration |
Artistic effort secondary, if present at all |
| Territorial claims infrequent |
Territorial claims prominent |
| Explicit threats rare |
Explicit threats made |
| Explicit boasts about tagger common |
Explicit boasts made about gang |
| Pictures and symbols dominant, letters and numbers secondary |
Letters, numbers, and symbols dominate |
| Limited police intelligence gathered |
Intelligence to police provided |