Community response helps Government’s graffiti crackdown
The State Government is helping to ensure graffiti around Perth is being removed quickly with more than 400 calls to the new Goodbye Graffiti hotline since its launch last month. Premier Alan Carpenter said the Goodbye Graffiti hotline (1800 44 22 55 or 1800 GG CALL) was a key part of the $3.6million anti-graffiti strategy.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The State Government is helping to ensure graffiti around Perth is being removed quickly with more than 400 calls to the new Goodbye Graffiti hotline since its launch last month.
Premier Alan Carpenter said the Goodbye Graffiti hotline ( 1800 44 22 55 or 1800 GG CALL ) was a key part of the $3.6million anti-graffiti strategy.
Mr Carpenter said the hotline’s value was already being proven with clean-up teams deployed more quickly to remove graffiti.
“Rapid removal of graffiti is a fundamental approach to graffiti reduction programs around the world,” he said.
“Our 24-hour State-wide graffiti hotline allows people to report offences and make a police report on offenders.
“It’s great to see the involvement of the community in helping us to beat this mindless vandalism.”
The Premier, who was joined by Community Safety and Police Minister John Kobelke in Kalamunda today for a regional State Cabinet meeting, also took the opportunity to inspect new CCTV equipment designed to fight the graffiti scourge.
Mr Kobelke said funding for CCTV surveillance was another major aspect of the State Graffiti Strategy.
He said 12 cameras were currently available on loan to local governments, with another $100,000 to be allocated for the purchase of 12 more cameras. Grants of $10,000 were also available for the purchase of portable wireless CCTV systems.
“I urge local governments to apply for CCTVs under these programs, which can also help solve other crimes such as vandalism and burglary,” Mr Kobelke said.
“We need everyone’s help in catching these offenders.
“It is in the interests of everyone - the community, business and industry - to help stamp out graffiti.”
Mr Kobelke said rewards had also proven to be an effective anti-graffiti weapon with recent arrests made as a result of anonymous information from a person seeking a reward.
“Rewards are a small price to pay for information with the potential to save tens of millions of dollars in graffiti removal costs,” he said.
The Minister also commended Bunnings on its commitment from October 1 not to sell aerosol paint cans to Western Australians under 18 years of age.
The State Graffiti Vandalism Reduction Strategy 2007 is available on the Goodbye Graffiti website: http://www.goodbyegraffiti.wa.gov.au or call 9222 9733.
Minister's office - 9213 6900
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