High tech war on graffiti

The Newman Government is deploying an invisible weapon in its war on graffiti.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said more than 1000 charges had been laid against graffiti vandals on rail assets in 2013.

“We’re sick and tired of these grubs on our network and our clear message is you will get caught,” Mr Emerson said.

“We are targeting this $5.5 million problem through a number of new technologies including the virtual fence which led to four arrests in June 2013.

“The virtual fence, located at a hot spot along the Gold Coast-Beenleigh line, uses a combination of thermal cameras and video analytics that detect vandals and sends an alert back to our security centre.

“The great thing about this technology is the vandals won’t even know they have been detected until the police arrive to arrest them.

“We are also about to launch a new trial using military grade buried sensor cables that will detect vandals and will activate alarms at our security centre. 

“Most recently a joint operation across several locations with the Queensland Police Railway Squad was conducted in June and resulted in multiple charges against 11 graffiti vandals.

“Vandals apprehended recently came from as far afield as Victoria to target our network.

 “In April a targeted joint investigation on the Gold Coast line resulted in three males being charged, with one offender pleading guilty and being fined $4,880.

“Another offender was captured in Beenleigh in April and received 100 hours of community service and was fined $8,610.

“As recently as last week over 200 graffiti related charges were laid by Railway Squad officers against a suspect on the Ipswich line.”  

Mr Emerson said the initiatives supported steps taken by the State Government to tackle graffiti including a new agreement between Brisbane City Council and Queensland Rail.

“Stations with more than 10 graffiti incidents in June included Goodna, Beenleigh and Kingston and on average, more than 100 trains come through our cleaning sheds each month with graffiti damage.”

Last financial year about 300,000 square metres of graffiti had to be painted over along the south east Queensland rail corridor and about 12,000 square metres of private property next to the corridor. This is equivalent to more than 45 Rugby League football fields.

[ENDS] 25 July 2013

Media contact: Steph Shield 0418 126 625