Graffiti vandals put on alert

By Melissa Meehan
TOUGH new anti-graffiti laws came into effect last week that give police greater powers to catch vandals and provide jail time and hefty fines for offenders.
The announcement of the anti-graffiti laws comes at a time when graffiti offences have been on the rise in Healesville.
Last week the Mail reported that a graffiti epidemic was taking over the town.
The Outdoor Pool, street signs, play equipment, buildings, footpaths and other features around town were vandalised over the recent school holidays.
A number of young people have been charged on summons with criminal damage by Healesville Police and will appear in the Children’s Court at a later date.
Police Minister Bob Cameron said vandals charged with the new marking graffiti offence could now face up to two years in jail and a fine of more than $26,000.
“Police will be able to issue an on-the-spot fine of $550 to anyone carrying spray paint cans on or adjacent to public transport without a lawful excuse or anywhere a person is trespassing,” Mr Cameron said.
Mr Cameron said the new laws were part of a Brumby Government anti-graffiti package giving councils greater powers to remove graffiti from private property and expands a program in which offenders could be forced to clean up graffiti.
Community relations officer for the Shire of Yarra Ranges, Sarah Oldman said that the council recommended that the most effective deterrent for vandalism was to paint over any graffiti as soon as possible.
She said that this would be easier now that the shire had received a Department of Justice grant to give free graffiti removal kits to businesses, schools, service groups and the like in addition to free kits available to residents.
“We have also secured a Department of Justice grant for free paint vouchers too,” Ms Oldman said.
“The vouchers will be available from community links mid year and give residents one litre of free external paint redeemable from one of 10 different stores across the shire.”
She said graffiti project officer Kate Powne has been working with the Victorian Police Crime Prevention Officer to work on tackling graffiti across the Yarra Ranges.
Community relations manager James Martin said that the shire spent around $100,000 each year cleaning up graffiti.