Graffiti sprayer caught in Bremen-Haus & Grund demands compensation!

Graffiti sprayer caught in Bremen-Haus & Grund demands compensation!

A 36-year-old graffiti sprayer caused excitement in Bremen on Friday morning: at around 4 a.m. in Flagranti, he was caught by an employee of the real estate owner association "Haus & Grund" how he immortalized his tags (letters O and M) on various buildings. The witness, who works as a building cleaner and caretaker and is therefore particularly sensitized to illegal graffiti, immediately informed the police. This started with three patrol cars and arrested the sprayer. Less than a day before, interior senator Ulrich Mäurer had announced a new campaign against graffiti sprayers, which again underlines the relevance of the experience.

The managing director of "Haus & Grund", Ingmar Getter, sees the arrest as a promising opportunity to assign the Sprayer further deeds. The police have already documented the acts and checks whether older graffiti also came from him. The alliance against color vandalism also calls for font analyzes to identify other possible acts. The sprayer could threaten a prison or fine.

killer games for street art?

The problem with illegal graffiti in Bremen is not new. In 2021, almost 800 such crimes were reported, with the surrounding area of ​​the main train station particularly affected. Interior Senator Mäurer described the situation as no longer tolerable, since the smearings not only represent an aesthetic annoyance, but also cause economic damage to owners and the public sector. The public funds for the elimination of graffiti are strongly limited; So far, only politically, religiously or sexist -motivated slogans have been removed promptly.

In order to counter color vandalism, the Senate has decided to use a cross -departmental concept that is based on a model of success from Freiburg. This concept includes 14 measures that aim to increase the clarification rate for property damage and to ensure regular removal of smearings in the city center. Private homeowners should be motivated to take out residential building insurance with graffiti protection, which can lead to a grant of 200 euros for the deductible in the event of damage.

a step in the right direction?

The majority of the measures are to be implemented from the second quarter of 2023. A pilot project in Vegesack showed positive results in combating graffiti and served as the basis for the new concept. Senator Maike Schaefer has emphasized that a distinction must be made between artistic graffiti and senseless color smearings. There are also agreements with housing associations for the rapid elimination of smearings.

After the 36-year-old graffiti sprayer was released after his questioning and determining his personal details, it is unclear whether the case is in court. The public prosecutor could apply for a criminal order. Marco Lübke from the CDU citizenship group expressed skepticism about the persecution of such crimes, which remains the discussion about dealing with color vandalism in Bremen.

The case of the graffiti sprayer could not only be of far-reaching importance for himself, but also for the city of Bremen. Will the new strategies go for color vandalism and free the streets of unwanted works of art? Only the future will show whether the current efforts will pay off.