A London borough has been named as the graffiti capital of Britain, beating the likes of Bristol and Manchester.
Residents in Camden filed more than 14,000 graffiti reports in the last three years, according to figures obtained under Freedom of Information legislation.
This is equivalent to 6,582 complaints per 100,000 people, showing how the line between vandalism and art has been tested locally.
Camden has gained notoriety in recent years for its vibrant street art, featuring large-scale murals to former residents such as Amy Winehouse.
But new research has found that Camden had more graffiti complaints per capita than anywhere in the country.
Lewisham came second in the study with 4,846 reports per 100,000 people, followed by Southampton in third with 3,007 reports.
Other London boroughs making up the top 10 included Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Southwark.
Jack Malnick, managing director of property agent Sell House Fast, which conducted the study, said: “This concentration underlines the capital’s creative energy but also the pressures of dense, fast-changing neighbourhoods.
“While curated murals can enhance local identity and even attract investment, persistent graffiti in residential zones risks eroding perceptions of safety and cleanliness — issues councils must balance carefully to protect both community pride and property values.”
Most councils deliver Fixed Penalty Notices of up to £500 for graffiti offences. However, if damages are deemed to exceed £5,000, offenders can face up to ten years in prison.
Some estimates suggest the annual costs for cleaning up aerosol spray paint, etching tools and marker pens on buildings and public structures across the UK is more than £1 billion.
There have also been reports of vandalism on the Underground, particularly on the Central and Bakerloo lines.
Transport for London say that 3,000 spray-painted “tags” are being removed from Tube carriages every week.
A Camden Council spokesman told the Standard: “Thanks to our Love Clean Streets app, it is quick and easy for Camden residents to report graffiti and flytips, which helps us to attend to these soon after they are logged.
“Besides this, Camden council is investing an extra £1 million a year in street cleaning and increasing the fines for both graffiti and flytipping.”
