Graffiti fades away

By Melissa Grant
POLICE have charged more than 20 graffiti vandals for multiple offences over the last year, including two who caused about $60,000 of damage between them.
The charges were laid during a crackdown on graffiti in the Cardinia Shire, which has seen the number of spray can scourges drop 66 per cent.
Only 311 incidents of graffiti were reported in the municipality over the last year, compared to almost 1000 in the previous 12-month period.
Acting Senior Sergeant Graham Higginbotham, a member of the Cardinia Graffiti Reference Group, said police intelligence about graffiti vandals had increased since launching the ‘Report, remove, reduce’ campaign about two years ago.
“We are getting more offences reported and we can identify offenders through tags,” he said.
Acting Sen Sgt Higginbotham said police had charged a number of youths for a large amount of criminal damage offences in Gembrook, Cockatoo and Emerald earlier this year.
But one of the biggest breakthroughs came when police apprehended and charged a man for over $34,000 of criminal damage committed from January to June this year.
This came after another spray can vandal was charged late last year over criminal damage of a similar value committed along the Princes Highway corridor from Beaconsfield to Pakenham.
Councillor Brett Owen, chairman of the Cardinia Shire Reference Group, said the group appeared to be winning the war against graffiti.
“But council is (still) committed to removing graffiti as quickly as possible and educating young people about the consequences of graffiti,” he said.
Under State Government legislation, introduced in April last year, people in possession of a ‘prescribed graffiti implement’ cop an on-the-spot fine of $550 or more.
Those found spraying graffiti on property visible in public places, without the owner’s permission, face a maximum two years’ imprisonment.
Cr Owen said the quick removal of graffiti had also helped reduce the number of incidents across the municipality.
In October, the group launched a graffiti blitz, which saw the removal of 1000 tags and other graffiti.
Richard Maugueret, the council’s community safety officer, said another shire wide clean-up was scheduled for September.
Mr Maugueret said the council was still committed to reducing and containing further incidents of graffiti throughout the municipality.
“We encourage the community to contact council as soon as they are affected by new graffiti to take advantage of the free graffiti removal kits and paint vouchers,” he said.
Residents can report graffiti to the Cardinia Shire Council on 1300 787 624.