Putting a cap on graffiti vandalism

Mr and Mrs Tran in front of an anti-graffiti mural.

Graffiti eradication: Mr and Mrs Tranand their new anti-graffiti mural.

From City Scene, published on 9 August, 2009.

A year on since a new graffiti eradication service was introduced by Auckland City Council, 60,000 sites have been cleaned and 98 offenders targeted.

Since July 2008, all graffiti vandalism is photographed and entered into a graffiti tracker database to help identify offenders.

Using this information, the top 10 offenders are regularly being identified and apprehended.

The new service, which has already generated strong interest from local authorities across New Zealand, is part of the council's zero tolerance programme that started in 2000.

Local Mt Roskill business owners Mr and Mrs Tran recently had an anti-graffiti mural painted on their shop front by the council's Mt Roskill Community Board, after years of being targeted by graffiti vandals.

The couple, who have owned the Fiesta Lunch Bar for 10 years, say they are thrilled with the mural.

"We are very pleased. A lot of our customers have also been commenting on how good it is, so we are very happy," said Mrs Tran.

"Every morning my husband used to have to clean the shop front. We would like to thank the council for all their efforts."

Spray paint retailers targeted

The council's zero tolerance programme received a further boost after recently securing grants totalling $65,000 from the Ministry of Justice crime prevention unit to fund new initiatives for 2009/2010.

Chairperson of the Community Services Committee, Councillor Paul Goldsmith, says the funding will allow the council to build on the good work already being accomplished.

"Auckland City Council's zero tolerance programme has been extremely successful and it's great to see tangible results being achieved through the new eradication service," he says.

"The council is serious about combating graffiti vandalism in the city and the grant we have received will allow us to continue making positive progress."

Part of the funding will be dedicated to making it harder for graffiti vandals to get their hands on materials such as spray paint.

The project will seek to educate retailers about their responsibility, under the Summary Offences Act (1981), to restrict the sale of spray paint to those under 18 and the consequences of non-compliance.

"By delivering targeted actions designed to improve the overall level of compliance amongst retailers we expect to make it significantly harder for vandals to get access to the materials they desire, thereby reducing the level of their offending," adds Paul.

The council also continues to work in partnership with local residents in the war against graffiti vandalism, with 703 volunteers helping to keep their communities graffiti free.

The public can report graffiti vandalism for removal through the council's call centre on 379 2020.

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