Writing on the Wall for Graffiti
Vandals
Issued: Wednesday, 7 May
2014
[PDF, 174kb]
New graffiti laws will make it easier for police and the courts to
deal with graffiti offenders and will remove the risk to young hopscotch players
which has existed since 1988, Attorney General Brad Hazzard announced
today.
“The
Graffiti Control Amendment Act modernises graffiti laws to deal with emerging
threats such as acid etching, unifying the laws so they are simpler for police
to apply and clearing the way for more offenders to be given clean up
orders.
“In
modernising the law, the final Bill clarifies an existing offence which
technically, but improbably, could have stopped children innocently playing or
dampened community spirit,” Mr Hazzard said.
The Act, which passed the
Legislative Council today;
introduces a new
offence of aggravated marking for graffiti that can’t be readily removed by
wiping, water or detergent which carries a 12 month jail sentence and fine of
$2,200,
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,
and
includes an exemption to prevent a
person from being prosecuted for chalking on a public pavement in NSW,
technically an offence since at least 1988.
Mr Hazzard said a new report into
Graffiti Removal Day, funded by the NSW Government, showed strong community
support for a graffiti-free environment.
“Graffiti Removal Day 2013 saw an
83 per cent increase in volunteers, with almost 1100 community members taking
part in the clean up,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Their work resulted in 23,140
square metres of graffiti being removed, saving taxpayers and businesses an
estimated $1.5 million in clean up costs.”
Graffiti Removal Day 2014 will be
held in October and for the third consecutive year, the NSW Government is
teaming up with Rotary Down Under to run the event.
“The NSW Government has worked with communities to reinvigorate and
protect public facilities, such as parks and sporting grounds, that have been
spoilt by senseless vandalism, and we will continue with measures to strengthen
local communities,” Mr Hazzard said.