Graffiti vandals get caught

From City Scene, published on 9 November, 2008

Eight of the city's 10 most destructive graffiti vandals have been arrested since July this year and are presently before the courts. This is a result of a collaborative operation between Auckland City Council and the New Zealand Police to eradicate graffiti vandalism in the city.

Councillor Paul Goldsmith, chairperson of the council's Community Services Committee is very pleased with the results. "Thirty-one graffiti vandals have been arrested in the past four months, including eight of the 10 graffiti vandals causing the most damage across the city. The council's focus is now to apprehend the next group of the city's worst graffiti vandals," he says.

"The 0800 STOP TAGS offender information hotline, which offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals, is producing good results," Mr Goldsmith says.

The council also introduced a new citywide graffiti eradication service in July, with contractors removing graffiti vandalism seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The new service has seen graffiti removed from over 16,000 sites.

"Getting rid of graffiti vandalism demands a zero-tolerance approach and part of this involves removing the graffiti as quickly and consistently as possible," says Mr Goldsmith.

The council encourages the public to call 0800 STOP TAGS (0800 7867 8247) with any information they have about graffiti vandals.