Big Drop in Graffiti in the City of Melville

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the significant improvement was due to the City’s: strict graffiti removal policies; preventative measures; and improved management practices.“The 59 per cent drop in graffiti is an outstanding result for all residents and ratepayers. The City of Melville is a beautiful area and graffiti can ruin the environment for all,” he said.

“In February 2009 there were 883 reported incidences of graffiti in the City of Melville. However in February 2010, there were 362 reported incidences of graffiti – a decrease of more than half or 59 per cent.

“The huge reduction in graffiti means the City of Melville feels safer to residents and is more attractive.

“The City’s graffiti management plan is targeting graffiti by focusing on: establishing police partnerships with a focus on graffiti; sharing removal information with police to assist in arrests; targeted Community Safety Service patrols to hot spot areas; and an improvement of rapid removal.

“We also encourage young people to respect their surroundings through urban art projects, such as ‘Phaze’, which involves painting murals at hot spot graffiti areas. Preventative initiatives, which also include the adopt-a-stop bus shelter initiative, discourage graffiti and brighten the urban environment.

“The City will also continue to pursue graffiti vandalism through the courts.”

The City of Melville removes all racist or obscene graffiti within 24 hours of being reported and all other graffiti must be removed within 48 hours. The City of Melville encourages the public to continue reporting graffiti for removal to the City’s 24-hour graffiti hotline on 1800 626 119.

Graffiti is a criminal offence and all instances of graffiti should also be reported to police as this enables arrests to be made. Information can be reported to police on 131 444 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.