Graffiti to get spray Database of tags
By CARLY CRAWFORD

Sunday Herald Sun
Edition 1 - FIRSTSUN 23 MAY 2004, Page 025

NOTORIOUS graffiti tags would be stored on a statewide database and vandals would be forced to clean up their mess under State Government plans to check the $25 million a year scourge.
Victorian authorities are also consulting major hardware chains with the aim of limiting the sale of spray cans sold to minors.
And local councils could also be given powers allowing them to wipe graffiti from private property adjoining public land without the property owner's permission.
Crime Prevention Victoria is canvassing the options as part of a legislation review under the State Government's $480,000 graffiti management strategy.
Police Minister Andre Haermeyer said Victoria Police was in the process of building a statewide database that would record when and where graffiti tags emerged, mapping the movement of graffiti crews.
That would mean repeat offenders had nowhere to hide.
``We will be able to identify these graffiti vandals and prosecute them and one of the tasks they may have to undertake is to remove their own muck,'' he said.
Young offenders sentenced to community-based orders for various offences, including vandalism, would be put to work cleaning up graffiti under the plan.
A similar trial in Geelong last year saw seven kilometres of graffiti wiped from a rail corridor in five months.
If the database is successful, it could be rolled out nationally to track roving graffiti crews who cross state borders.
Such databases are being used in local government areas, including Casey which has seen a 75 per cent drop in the number of new graffiti tags appearing over the past year.
Mayor Rob Wilson said the bigger the database, the more effective the tool.
``We photograph new tags as they emerge and we'd like to see what we have piloted taken across the state.''
A bylaw also prevents the sale of spray cans to minors, with penalties of up to $2000 for a breach.
Mr Haermeyer said hardware stores were being asked to adopt a voluntary agreement similar to the one in place with Mitre 10, where employees agreed not to sell spray paint to minors.Residents Against Graffiti Everywhere president Steve Beardon applauded moves towards a database.
``It would have a dramatic impact, because a majority of graffiti vandals do travel the rail network with most of their damage being done in the suburbs,'' he said.