Graffiti to be cleaned up by offenders

Young graffiti offenders will be forced to clean up their mess under tough new laws to be introduced by Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie today.

Mr Bleijie said the previous Labor Government had been too soft on vandals with only a small percentage of sentenced offenders receiving custodial sentences.

“It doesn’t matter what vandals call it, graffiti is an act of vandalism and it’s breaking the law,” he said.

“These young people have no respect for other people’s property and it is only right they are made to clean up their mess.

“To make sure offenders are made to pay for their crimes, we will be introducing a mandatory community-based sentencing order called a Graffiti Removal Order.

“This new order ensures graffiti offenders, both adult and juvenile, remove graffiti, participate in work that helps with its removal or at the very least clean up public places.

“These clean-up orders will not only help reduce the amount of graffiti defacing our public places and property, but will also make vandals think twice about doing it in the first place.

“We will also be increasing the maximum penalty for graffiti from five to seven years’ imprisonment to set a clear deterrent.”

In the case of adult graffiti offenders, the courts will also be able to confiscate mobile phones or cameras if they have been used to record or photograph the offence.

“Graffiti vandals take great pride in their graffiti ‘tag’ which shows other vandals the work is distinctly theirs,” Mr Bleijie said.

“These reforms reinforce graffiti as an act of vandalism and go to the heart of the graffiti gang culture.”

“The Government will also work closely with business and local councils to help address the issue in industrial areas and surrounding locations.

“We have been working with the Brisbane City Council through our Youth Partnership Program to make young people remove graffiti across the city.

“These changes to the Criminal Code ensure the punishment fits the crime and at the same time helps offenders understand the impact their actions have on the community.”

[ENDS] 29 November 2012   

Media Contact: Lisa O’Donnell 0400 986 432 or Matt Johnston 0432 535 893