An innovative approach to combat urban vandalism
In an effort to revitalise the city's image and reduce vandalism, the City Council of Madrid has implemented a revolutionary protocol that allows graffiti offenders to clean the spray paint instead of paying fines. This programme, which began in December 2024, has proven effective in its first twelve months, achieving remarkable results.
During this period, 70 sanctioned individuals have actively participated in cleaning nearly 6,000 square metres of graffiti, equivalent to the total surface area of a complete facade of the iconic Torre Picasso building. In total, these participants have accumulated 2,724 hours dedicated to this task, thus transforming into true “apostles of cleanliness,” according to the words of the delegate for Urbanism, Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante.
Apart from the positive visual impact achieved on the streets of Madrid, this programme has also fostered a cultural change among offenders. Many have begun to understand the damage their actions cause and become advocates for respect for public space. In fact, an impressive 89% of participants have rated this alternative to administrative sanctions positively.
Through the system implemented by the Madrid City Council, sanctions worth a total of 143,850 euros have been replaced. This has not only allowed for the cleaning of deteriorated public spaces but has also contributed to a notable 26% decrease in the area affected by graffiti during 2025. Additionally, the total number of sanctioning files decreased by 8.3%, with a significant drop in the average amount of fines.
Throughout the past year, work was carried out in 15 areas across 11 districts, including areas such as Moncloa-Aravaca and Carabanchel. The anti-graffiti patrols of the SELUR service conducted more than 52,231 interventions, cleaning approximately 363,097 square metres, representing a considerable reduction compared to the previous year.
Borja Carabante emphasises that these initiatives are making a tangible difference: “We are seeing fewer and fewer graffiti and cleaning them faster,” he stated during his visit to the Bombilla park to present these positive results. With an annual investment of nearly 12 million euros, Madrid seems to be charting a path towards a cleaner and more aware urban environment.
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