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Camden New Journal - by SIMON WROE
Published: 14 June 2007

Painted street furniture in Savernake Road

Mystery of the anti-graffiti Pink Painter

The council hasn’t a Clouseau
who he is

SOME say it was salmon, others insisted on flamingo, but one thing was certain – large parts of a street by Hampstead Heath were decidedly in the pink over the weekend.
Now the New Journal has tracked down the mysterious figure who covered swathes of Gospel Oak streets in pink paint in an anti-graffiti rampage.
The ‘Pink Painter’ – as he has been dubbed by bemused residents – daubed the scribbled-on street signs and power boxes in Savernake Road with a dashing shade of pink on Saturday morning.
The New Journal learned the identity of the vermillion vigilante, who agreed to talk so long as his identity was concealed.
He said: “I remove gang graffiti from the traffic furniture because it attracts criminal activity and generally detracts from people’s lives.”
The Pink Painter added that he had chosen the colour to “freak out the homophobic gang kids”, and that he would continue his campaign of garish reform wherever he felt the council was shirking.
“I believe in ‘direct action’ – not messing about with Camden Council. It’s a waste of telephone money and stamp money. If you want something done, do it yourself,” he said.
Pam Gilby, chairwoman of the South End Green Association, said: “The footbridge has always been a bad spot for graffiti – the council are fighting a losing battle there. But I don’t think painting it is the answer at all.”
When told the Pink Painter intended to extend his pink protest across the borough, Mrs Gilby said: “Well he’s going to have quite a task in front of him. I hope he’s agile.”
A council spokesperson said: “Graffiti is an eyesore that we’re determined to stamp out. Some areas regularly suffer from graffiti attacks.
“We are keen to make it is easy for people to report graffiti, to be able to remove it quickly and to gather evidence to prosecute those responsible.”
They added that the council dealt with all matters of graffiti within five working days.
And as if by magic, the paint and the graffiti were glaringly absent from the streets on Monday.
In a move that seemed to confirm both the council and the painter’s cases, the council’s grime busting team had swiftly removed all the offending artwork.
Where or when the Pink Painter will strike again is unknown...

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