School vandalism costs City of Helsinki up to EUR one million each year

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By Juha Salonen
     
     Vandalism that flourishes at schools in Helsinki causes up to a million euros in damage each year. The most typical headaches include broken windows and graffiti on walls. However, even more serious deliberate acts of damage take place.
     The total costs include money that is spent on preventing vandalism. Surveillance equipment and security cameras are expensive.
     "Each year vandalism brings costs in the hundreds of thousands. If we add the cost of surveillance, the expenses can come close to a million euros", says Pekka Hapuoja, director of property services for the City of Helsinki.
     
From 2005 through 2007 a total of 340 acts of vandalism at schools were reported to police. The number of cases has been steadily increasing constantly.
     Police statistics probably reveal only a partial truth. Police are not called in for every dent or wall painting. Nevertheless, the city still has to foot the bill.
     "There would be better ways to spend the money that goes into the repair and prevention of vandalism. The money could be used for the repair of buildings suffering from fungus, dampness, and bad indoor air", Hapuoja says.
     
A massive bill sits on Hapuoja's desk. Vandals climbed onto the flat roof of a school building and clogged a rain water drain with sand.
     "The water that flooded over went into the mudsill, which had to be torn out because of the water damage. That alone cost between 200,000 and 300,000 euros", Hapuoja estimates.
     Acts on such a large scale are unusual, he says, but they are not unique.
     
Buildings with flat roofs tend to be prone to vandalism. They are easy to climb, and expensive technology that is located on the roof is within easy access of the hooligans.
     Ventilation equipment is an easy target. Sometimes the diligence and fortitude of the ruffians is downright amazing.
     In extreme cases, electric cables have been excavated from the ground. That is downright dangerous.
     Schools that are in remote locations, which are poorly illuminated tend to attract those bent on destruction. Often the perpetrators are present or former pupils of the school.
     
Problem schools are located throughout Helsinki. Schools in the east, and in the west of Helsinki tend to suffer more than others.
     "There are schools where vandalism takes place more frequently than in others. If statistics at a particular school begin to look exceptionally bad, we start thinking of ways to improve the situation. For instance, camera surveillance and monitoring services are means to this end", Hapuoja says.
     He admits, however, that vandals are rarely caught. Municipalities and their taxpayers almost always end up footing the bill.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 7.1.2008


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Half of Helsinki schools have security camera surveillance (17.11.2007)

JUHA SALONEN / Helsingin Sanomat
juha.salonen@hs.fi