New campaign to keep ‘Graffidiots’ away from public transport

09/06/2008

Graffiti vandalism on public transport will be targeted with a new campaign aimed at ‘Graffidiots’.

Premier Alan Carpenter today launched the campaign emphasising the anti-social aspects and serious consequences of graffiti vandalism - and the penalties which could include jail.

Mr Carpenter said the campaign, which used posters and decals on board buses and trains, encouraged people to report graffiti vandalism to the 1800 442 255 graffiti hotline when they saw it happening.

In addition, Transit officers and the Police Rail Unit would start targeted blitzes at key hotspots on the public transport network.

“Western Australians have a world-class public transport system and they should be able to use it without being confronted by ugly damage,” the Premier said.

“This vandalism shows a lack of respect, not only for the people who use and work in the system, but also for the wider community which pays for it.

“The extra $2.4million we spend on cleaning up graffiti each year would be better used on public transport services.

“As we catch repeat offenders, in addition to the penalties they attract, we are now able to get them off our buses and trains.”

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the Public Transport Authority’s ‘Operation Graffidiot’ was part of a whole-of-Government approach to a whole-of-society problem.

Ms MacTiernan said other aspects of the operation included:

• rapid removal of graffiti and the use of graffiti-resistant materials;
• renewed emphasis on prevention and enforcement with targeted blitzes by Transit Officers and the Police Rail Unit - with the recent banning orders legislation providing extra muscle;
• the 1800 442 255 number through which people can report graffiti vandalism;
• a youth consultation forum in which about 120 people, including about 80 young people, talk about graffiti - what it is, why it happens and what can be done about it; and
• the Urban Art Project - a community engagement exercise which has identified graffiti hot-spots on the network and uses youth and internationally-recognised public artists to create legitimate urban art.

Ms MacTiernan said the PTA was working closely with Police and the Office of Crime Prevention which had set up and was managing the graffiti hotline - 1800 442 255.