Graffiti and vandalism reduction strategies
Sutherland Shire Council actively promotes the message that graffiti is a crime. Residents and private property owners are encouraged to report all incidents of graffiti and vandalism to the NSW Police Force.
Graffiti and vandalism incidents are reflected in recorded crime rates as malicious damage offences. Malicious damage includes not only graffiti but also deliberate damage to public or private assets. Malicious damage is one of the few offences where reported levels of crime within the Sutherland Shire are close to the Sydney average. In 2009 the rate of malicious damage dropped to the lowest recorded level of malicious damage offences since 2005.
For more information on malicious damage statistics and trends (96Kb pdf)
Sutherland Shire Council is serious about reducing graffiti and vandalism across the Sutherland Shire and has engaged relevant stakeholders to develop and implement graffiti and vandalism reduction strategies. For more information on specific strategies go to the partnerships, projects and initiatives to reduce graffiti vandalism, education, and hotspot reduction strategies sections included on this page.
Partnerships
Vandalism Prevention Unit
In conjunction with the Miranda and Sutherland Local Area Commands of the NSW Police Force, council has established the Vandalism Prevention Unit (VPU) to combat malicious damage to property including vandalism and graffiti.
The Vandalism Prevention Unit is responsible for developing new and innovative strategies for the NSW Police Force and Sutherland Shire Council to reduce this behaviour. Some initiatives the Vandalism Prevention Unit has implemented to date include:
- joint undercover operations
- graffiti sticker project
- trial of graffiti removal kits.
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Projects and initiatives to reduce graffiti vandalism
Removal
Graffiti removal from council assets
Council operates two graffiti removal vehicles with dedicated staff who respond to incidents of graffiti on council owned or managed property.
Trial of graffiti removal kits for private property owners
Council is currently supplying graffiti removal kits to local residents interested in removing graffiti from their own property. The kits contain environmentally-friendly graffiti removal products and protective equipment. To enquire about obtaining a kit please contact the Community Safety Officer - Graffiti on 9710 0333.
Council's graffiti removal database
All incidents of graffiti removed by council officers are stored in council's graffiti database including photos and other relevant information. Critical graffiti tag and photographic data is shared with other councils and the NSW Police Force which assists police to track down serial graffiti offenders.
Integrated response
Council will be working closely with other government agencies including: State Rail, the RTA, and Australia Post to develop an integrated response strategy focused on removing graffiti from all government owned property as quickly as possible. Meetings with state government departments commenced in January 2010 and a plan of action will be in place later this year.
Menai community volunteer graffiti removal pilot project
Sutherland Shire Council in partnership with Menai Community Services Inc has developed a pilot community volunteer graffiti removal project in the Menai district. The aim of this project is to assist council to:
- Reduce graffiti in the Menai area.
- Enhance the visual amenity of the Menai district by reducing the period of time graffiti remains visible.
- Create an opportunity for the Menai community to contribute to beautifying their area.
- Bring local residents and community members together to address a local issue.
To register your interest in becoming a volunteer, contact Menai Community Services Inc on 9543 5115.
Council is currently examining the establishment of similar community volunteer graffiti removal projects in other areas of the Shire. To register your interest in joining a graffiti removal project in your local area, call the Crime Prevention and Youth Projects team on 9710 0333.
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Education
Vandalism Reward Scheme
Council manages the Vandalism Reward Scheme. The aim of the project is to identify graffiti vandals through information supplied by members of the community. A reward may be payable when, information regarding an offence that has occurred on a council owned or managed facility, results in legal action being taken against the offender.
Get-A-GRIP
The Graffiti Removal Intervention Program (GRIP) aims to reduce the amount of recidivism amongst juvenile offenders by educating them as to the personal, social, and financial costs of participating in illegal graffiti vandalism. The program also provides the offenders with an avenue for remediation by having them remove graffiti vandalism from predetermined locations throughout the Sutherland Shire.
The Graffiti Sticker Program
The Graffiti Sticker Program involves the placement of a sticker over incidents of graffiti to inform the community that the incident is being investigated and will be removed by council. The sticker also provides a visual reminder of council's campaign to reduce graffiti in the Sutherland Shire conveying a clear message to offenders that graffiti is a crime that will not be tolerated.
Responsible Retailers Program
In conjunction with Miranda and Sutherland Local Area Commands, council is working to improve awareness amongst retailers of spray cans about relevant legislation concerning the sale of their product, as well as highlighting what methods they can put in place to support graffiti prevention within the community. Under this program the council is working closely with hardware stores, discount stores, paint stores, art and craft stores, and automotive retailers to ensure all spray cans are displayed and sold responsibly.
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Hotspot reduction strategies
Graffiti Hotspot Reduction Project
In 2009 council received $100 000 in grant funding from the NSW Attorney General's Department to run a graffiti hotspot reduction project. This project focuses on determining the top four graffiti hotspot locations in the Sutherland Shire and implementing strategies to reduce instances of graffiti and malicious damage in these locations. A second hotspot reduction project will be implemented at the completion of the initial project.
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How you can be involved in graffiti prevention
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1. Report graffiti vandalism and graffiti vandals to the NSW Police Force through the Police Assistance Line (PAL) on 131 444 if the incident as already occurred, or Triple Zero (000) if the crime is in progress. |
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2. Remove graffiti vandalism from your own property quickly (within 24 hours) as rapid removal significantly reduces the chance of graffiti vandalism reoccurring. |
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3. Lock up paint and spray cans on your property and dispose of them carefully to avoid theft and environmental damage. |
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4. Prevent your property from being damaged by graffiti vandalism through the implementation of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies. For more information on CPTED have a look at the Crime Prevention and the Built Environment section of council's website or the fact sheets attached below. |
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5. Participate in volunteer programs to remove or manage graffiti vandalism in your local area. |
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Graffiti fact sheets
The following fact sheets have been prepared to provide more information on understanding and preventing graffiti vandalism.
Fact sheet 1: Managing graffiti vandalism in NSW (437 Kb pdf)
Fact sheet 2: Understanding your local graffiti vandalism problem (556 Kb pdf)
Fact sheet 3: Information for property owners (429 Kb pdf)
Fact sheet 4: Situational methods to prevent graffiti vandalism (395 Kb pdf)
Fact sheet 5: Preventing graffiti vandalism – crime prevention through environmental design (390 Kb pdf)
Fact sheet 6: Graffiti vandalism removal and paint-out options (416 Kb pdf)
Fact sheet 7: Volunteer paint-out programs (416 Kb pdf)
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Reporting graffiti on council property
To report graffiti on council property including parks, street furniture, local road infrastructure and council buildings email us at ssc@ssc.nsw.gov.au or call Sutherland Shire Council's Customer Service Centre on 9710 0333.
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Reporting graffiti on other property
Council cannot remove graffiti from property that does not belong to council. If you notice graffiti on government property not owned by council such as electrical kiosks and public telephones, you should report it to the relevant government department using the contact numbers listed below. If you notice graffiti on private property such as commercial or residential property you should report the incident to the property owner for removal.
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Contact |
Graffiti or Vandalism on: |
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Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
Ph: 1800 816 770 |
To report graffiti on all major roads including street signs and sound walls. |
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Telstra public telephones
Ph: 180 22 44 |
To report graffiti on Telstra pay phones. |
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Telstra general infrastructure
Ph: 132 203 |
To report in place faults (including graffiti) on residential services. |
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Energy Australia
Ph: 131 535 |
To report graffiti on Energy Australia owned property including telegraph poles and green junction boxes. |
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State Rail Authority
Ph: 131 500 then press option 5 |
To report graffiti vandalism on railway overpasses, train stations and sound barriers. |
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Education Institutions
The appropriate principal or office manager. |
To report graffiti on schools, TAFE Colleges and education offices. |
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Australia Post
Ph: 13 13 18 |
To report graffiti on all Australia Post property including post boxes. |
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Sydney Water Facility Operations Centre
Ph: 13 20 90 |
To report graffiti on property owned by Sydney Water. |
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Ad Shell
Ph: 1800 501 402 |
To report graffiti on Ad Shell bus shelters. |
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Sutherland Shire Council in conjunction with the NSW Police Force has developed a flyer with clear and concise information about how and when to report criminal activity to Sutherland Shire Council, the NSW Police Force and other state government departments. Download the Reporting Crime flyer (1,276KB pdf) to leave by your telephone for easy reference.
For more information contact Crime Prevention and Youth Projects team
Phone: +61 2 9710 0333 (Mon-Fri)
Fax: +61 2 9710 0594
Email: crime@ssc.nsw.gov.au
Useful Links
Some sites and organisations other than council which may have useful information.
NSW Police Force
NSW Police Force remains fully committed to combating crime and reducing the fear of crime through the provision of a range of services designed to ensure a safe NSW. NSW Police Force
Graffiti NSW
The NSW Department of Justice and Attorney Generals has created the Graffiti NSW website to raise awareness about the harmful effects of graffiti vandalism and provide practical advice to fight against it. Graffiti NSW
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