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City and Police Partnership Nets 50 Criminal Damage Charges
A joint effort between the City of Melville and Murdoch Police resulted in the police recently charging a 16-year-old from Brentwood with criminal damage. The charges came about after forensic tests matched the paint alleged to have been in the juvenile’s possession, with 50 tags that had been sprayed along Marmion Street in Melville.
Murdoch Police Station Officer-in-Charge Craig Sweeney said in September 2008 the police stopped the juvenile, who was seen wandering the streets at 1:30am on a school night. He said the 16-year-old was found to be in possession of graffiti implements.
Murdoch Police Officer, Acting Sergeant Jen Robinson – who has worked extensively in forensics – was on duty that night and located a large amount of fresh tags alleged to have matched the colours of the graffiti implements found on the juvenile. A/Sgt Robinson took scrapings from the tags and sent them off for testing.
Mayor Russell Aubrey said the City of Melville had recently started providing Palmyra and Murdoch Police with information on graffiti removed on a weekly basis to assist in apprehending graffiti offenders. “Murdoch Police requested information regarding all graffiti removed in the City in September 2008 to help develop the case against the alleged offender. From the City’s information, the police identified that 479sqm of graffiti was removed by the City on the week the alleged offence took place. Of this amount, approximately 200sqm was committed along Marmion Street. Through the dedication and tireless efforts of City staff and Murdoch police officers, the police were able to lay a string of charges against the alleged offender,” he said.
“Getting tough on anti-social behaviour is very important to me and was part of my platform when I was elected. A part of the City’s new Community Safety and Crime Prevention Plan will entail establishing even closer links with the police and supporting the community to eradicate anti-social behaviour in the City. The nature of graffiti vandalism is such that the community suffers considerable cost and loss of amenity because of repeat offenders. The fight against graffiti requires a collaborated effort from local and State Government as well as the whole community. Police require community assistance to make arrests such as these. I congratulate the police on their actions and the vigilance they have shown,” he said.
“Graffiti vandalism costs our City more than $300,000pa of valuable ratepayer funds that could be used in so many other constructive ways for the benefit of our community. Graffiti should be viewed as being unacceptably anti-social, particularly during times when so many are suffering financial constraint. I will continue to promote a strident approach in seeking prosecution and restitution against those involved,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Sweeney said he would like to recognise the officers who had worked extremely hard to bring about this result. “Without the dedication and tireless efforts from A/Sgt Jen Robinson and Constable Natalee Cunningham of the Murdoch Police, this string of charges may never have eventuated. The community plays a major cooperative role by reporting any suspicious activities to police to stop these recurring problems,” he said.
The community is encouraged to report any suspicious activities or behaviour in their area to police on 131 444. To report graffiti for removal call the City of Melville Graffiti Hotline on 1300 626 119 or visit the City of Melville website www.melvillecity.com.au.