Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea claims new laws to combat emerging graffiti threats such as acid etching, will make it easier for police to deal with graffiti crime and pave the way for more graffiti offenders to clean up vandalism in the community.
The Graffiti Control Amendment Act creates an aggravated marking offence, which will capture acid etching and other graffiti that can’t be readily removed by wiping or using water or detergent. The offence carries a 12 month jail sentence and fine of $2,200.
The Act also clarifies that courts can include a community clean up order as part of a graffiti offender’s sentence even if hasn’t been specifically sought by the prosecutor or offender.
Mr O’Dea said, “Removing graffiti is a tedious, time consuming and costly task and clean up orders will ensure vandals get first-hand experience of the harm and inconvenience they cause to our community. The Act helps to unify NSW graffiti laws, making it easier for police to deal with offenders.
“Local police officers no longer have to search several different pieces of legislation when deciding what charge to lay against a graffiti offender as all the relevant laws are now contained in the one Act.”
Mr O’Dea said the new graffiti laws would target criminal behaviour and would not prevent children and communities from chalking hopscotch squares and rainbows onto footpaths.
“Tough laws alone will not be enough to win this battle – we also need the community to play its part by reporting graffiti to the Graffiti Hotline (free call 1800 707 125) and by lending a hand on Graffiti Removal Day 2014,” Mr O’Dea said.
Graffiti Removal Day 2013 saw an 83 per cent increase in volunteers, with almost 1100 community members taking part in the clean-up.
Their work resulted in 23,140 square metres of graffiti being removed, saving taxpayers and businesses and estimated $1.5 million in clean-up costs.
The NSW Government will again be teaming up with Rotary Downunder to run Graffiti Removal Day 2014, which will be held on Sunday, 26 October.
