Instances of graffiti are continuing to decline in Orillia.
A report to the Orillia Police Services Board meeting on Tuesday noted graffiti occurrences were down from 46 in the second quarter of 2018 to 27 in the second quarter of 2019.
So far this year, there have been 38 occurrences. That represents a more than 40 per cent drop from the same time period in 2018, when 92 instances were reported.
“The good news is it appears to be trending down. That’s a significant reduction,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “The one tag that does appear to be up there is ‘WINDIGO.’”
That tag and variations of it — including “WIND” and “W” — have been found around town 64 times since 2016. The tags have been spray-painted on everything from electrical boxes to walls and garage doors.
The downward trend in overall occurrences can be credited, in part, to proactive patrols by a bylaw officer who documents graffiti and passes that information along to police, to be entered in a graffiti database. Those patrols have been happening since March 2017.
“The legislative services division’s efforts to produce detailed monthly reports identifying graffiti is certainly a factor which helps to decrease occurrences,” said Kristine Preston, the city’s assistant clerk and executive assistant to the police services board.
“Bylaw ensures that the OPP are notified of graffiti locations so that trends are observed and tracked. Measures are also taken to promptly remove the graffiti, which also assists to curtail this type of mischief.”
The city requires property owners to remove graffiti.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to that, but I haven’t (seen) a viable alternative,” Clarke said.
While that requirement is an added burden for property owners, it seems to be serving its purpose.
“That will potentially prevent someone from tagging that location again because they know it will be removed promptly,” Preston said.
