Removal or obliteration of graffiti, placards and posters
36. For Article 18 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (NI 15) (removal of graffiti and fly posters) substitute—
“Removal or obliteration of graffiti, placards and posters
18.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, a district council may remove or obliterate—
(a)any graffiti which, in the opinion of the council, is detrimental to the amenity of any land in its district;
(b)any placard or poster which is displayed in its district and which, in the opinion of the council, is so displayed in contravention of regulations under Article 67 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
(2) Where any graffiti, placard or poster to which sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (1) applies identifies the person who displayed it or caused it to be displayed, a district council may give that person notice in writing—
(a)that the council is of the opinion mentioned in that sub-paragraph in respect of the graffiti, placard or poster specified in the notice;
(b)requiring that graffiti, placard or poster to be removed or obliterated within the period of 2 days beginning with the date of service of the notice; and
(c)stating the effect of paragraph (3).
(3) Where—
(a)a district council serves a notice on a person under paragraph (2) in relation to any graffiti, placard or poster, and
(b)the person fails to remove or obliterate it within the period mentioned in that paragraph,
the council may recover summarily as a civil debt from that person the expenses it may reasonably incur in exercising its power under paragraph (1).
(4) Where—
(a)any graffiti, placard or poster to which paragraph (1)(a) or (b) applies does not identify the person who displayed it or caused it to be displayed, but
(b)the graffiti, placard or poster publicises the goods, services or concerns of an identifiable person,
paragraphs (2) and (3) have effect as if the reference in paragraph (2) to the person who displayed the graffiti, placard or poster or caused it to be displayed were a reference to the person whose goods, services or concerns are publicised.
(5) For the purpose of exercising any power under paragraph (1) a person authorised in writing by the council for the purposes of this Article may at any reasonable time enter any land if—
(a)the land is unoccupied, and
(b)it would be impossible to exercise the power without entering the land.
(6) Where any damage is caused to land or chattels in the exercise of any power under paragraph (1), compensation may be recovered from the district council exercising the power by any person suffering the damage (other than the person who displayed the graffiti, placard or poster or caused it to be displayed).
(7) Any question of disputed compensation shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.
(8) Nothing in this Article authorises the removal or obliteration of any graffiti, placard or poster displayed—
(a)within a building to which there is no public right of access; or
(b)on land owned or occupied by a body established by or under a statutory provision.
(9) This Article and Article 19 are without prejudice to Article 67 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (control of advertisements), and to Article 84 of that Order (enforcement of advertisement control), and to any regulations made under that Order by virtue of those Articles.”.