With defacement of property a non-cognizable offence in the city, police say they now have greater leverage to penalise violators.

Soon after President Pratibha Patil gave her assent to the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007, the city police announced a 72-hour period, ending on Sunday, for the removal of posters and banners from public places, before they started penalising offenders.

Rajan Bhagat, Public Relation Officer of the Delhi Police, said the police will come down heavily on offenders who have still not removed posters and banners.

With the implementation of the new legislation, the West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1976, that included the city in its purview, ceases to exist.

According to the Act, damaging or disfiguring of building, wall, tree, fence, post, pole or any other structure or spoiling in any other way whatsoever will not be allowed.

A police officer can now arrest an offender without warrant. The offence comes with a jail term of up to one year or a penalty of Rs 50,000 or both.