None of us want to have our front wall or our garage door defaced by graffiti. But what can we do about it when it happens?

It seems to me that our government policies are failing us in regard to deterring this disgraceful behaviour.

When I see yet another example of the defacing of public or private property I have to question whether this conduct is the highest form of arrogance and self-delusion? Why do these vandals believe that anyone really cares about seeing their scribblings, their scrawlings, their defacing of someone else's property?

One has to ask, if these vandals are really seeking public recognition, then why are they too ashamed to clearly identify who they are? If they are really seeking to be identified, why not stand up and admit to the authorship of their creations? Why hide away like cowards in the night?

A number of local councils have shown that they are prepared to give a public forum for honest and talented urban artists. This is commendable and should be encouraged.

I do not complain about young and talented artists who seek to legitimately display their creations. It is the would-be-if-they-could-be's who are the cause of this problem.

And despite numerous law and order programs graffiti continues on its dark and dirty path.

A recent media release from the NSW Police Department [1] reported that on Saturday, 30 August 2008 police arrested two teenagers in relation to a graffiti attack on a train at Cronulla railway station. Four teenage males were observed spraying a large amount of graffiti on the train.

The graffiti was estimated to have caused over $5000 in damage.

Commuter crime and general duties officers from Miranda attended immediately and gave chase, arresting a 16-year-old Cronulla youth a short time later.

Apparently he was expected to undergo youth conferencing in relation to the incident. Youth conference you might ask? Why was he not looking at jail time??

The issue of graffiti vandalism was raised in the NSW Parliament by the Shadow Attorney-General Greg Smith on 20.6.08. At that time, the Shadow Attorney- General drew the attention of the House to the dreadful epidemic of vandalism that plagues his local area of Epping and many other areas throughout the State.

He pointed out that graffiti is a great scourge on our community and it has been estimated to cost the State of New South Wales more than $100 million a year. He congratulated one of his local papers, the Weekly Times, for starting a campaign on graffiti vandalism. The Weekly Times was offering up to $5,000 to local residents who dob in a vandal.

What did the Iemma Government say to this commendable statement? They played politics.

Well I suggest it is about time we put politics aside and did something about this epidemic.

On 9 May 2006, the NSW Attorney General announced the Government's ‘comprehensive strategy' to reduce the incidence of graffiti vandalism on trains, public transport infrastructure and other community facilities. A major component of this strategy was the establishment of the Anti-Graffiti Action Team [2].

Despite setting up this Team, nothing seems to have changed.

It all seems to be smoke and mirrors, good intentions but with little practical effect.

A look at the website shows the comprehensive strategy in its full glory placing a major onus on victims and property owners to prevent graffiti!  It shows victims how to clean off the graffiti after it has trashed their property. It suggests witnesses contact crime stoppers.

It also tells us to ‘prevent graffiti vandalism by: removing it promptly, maintaining your property, installing fencing so that it won't attract graffiti, painting walls and fences with dark colours, planting vegetation in front of the walls and fences, employing security measures and improving lighting!

It seems to me that it is time we admitted that the problem is more serious than the government is prepared to admit and it won't go away unless we are prepared to get tough on the perpetrators of this destructive and shadowy crime.

Cronulla MP Malcolm Kerr (Liberal) practised as a barrister before being elected to NSW Parliament in 1984. His Parliamentary service has included Government Whip, Opposition Whip, Secretary to Shadow Cabinet, Chairman on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Currently Malcolm is a member of the Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman and Police Integrity Commission and the ICAC committee.

www.malcolmkerr.com.au [3]