Writing on the wall for graffiti vandals

A suburban progress group has welcomed tough new laws which deliver harsher penalties for graffiti vandals but says more community input is needed to stamp out the “frustrating” crime.

The Government last week introduced a new standalone graffiti offence which carries maximum penalties of $24,000 and two years jail.

The measure includes mandatory clean-up orders for convicted vandals, confiscation of property used to record vandalism, and an offence for possession of a graffiti tool.

Corryne Bull from the Rangeway Utakarra Karloo Progress Association said the laws would have an impact on graffiti in the area.

But she said more could be done by local businesses and the community to deter vandals.

“I think (the laws) will definitely help, but graffiti is like a disease and unless you jump on it and stamp it out, it will keep spreading,” she said.

“They target the stuff that can be painted over and there haven’t been too many instances of damage to personal property, but it’s still very annoying.

“We’ve asked a number of private businesses in the area to address their graffiti issues but they’ve indicated they don’t have the budget for it.”

Ms Bull said RUKPA was looking at several measures to combat graffiti, such as professional artwork at bus stations and a dedicated graffiti wall.

She said the organisation would look at different grants and funding options in the coming months. According to State Government figures, incidences of graffiti are falling across WA but the financial impact is still considerable.

From 2012-2013, the total cost of removing graffiti vandalism in WA was nearly $8 million.

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said the new laws would send a clear message to graffiti vandals.

“These new laws support local councils and many home and business owners who know the grind of cleaning up graffiti vandalism,” he said.

“Now offenders will understand the effort it takes to clean and plenty of time to re-think their unacceptable behaviour.

“We endeavour to clean graffiti vandalism within 24 hours and now we will remove the ability for the vandal to broadcast it.”