Readers rally behind police to identify alleged taggers

POLICE have praised a vigilant community for its role in turning in alleged graffiti vandals during a recent two-week sting.

Community Newspaper Group helped with phase two of Operation Eraser, publishing surveillance photographs of 16 people whom police wanted to identify.

Newspaper readers then did their part by identifying 12 of the 16. As a result, 10 were charged with various graffiti offences.

Overall, police made 30 arrests, issued 50 summonses related to graffiti and laid a total of 589 charges during the two-week operation last month.

Detective Senior Constable Dean Lampard, who led Operation Eraser, said police were very happy with the outcome.

Community Newspaper Group’s network of local newspapers splashed the surveillance images on the front pages of their July 5 editions to ensure maximum exposure across the wider metropolitan area.

Graffiti offenders are known to not restrict their crimes to a local area, and police wanted everyone’s help to identify people who tag or damage buses, trains and buildings.

Deputy Commissioner Stephen Brown described graffiti as one of the most visible and confronting of all crimes and anti-social problems that occur in all communities.

“Graffiti touches multiple victims and affects everyone in the community who sees it,” he said.

Planning is under way for a third phase of Operation Eraser later this year.

People who have information on graffiti offenders may be eligible for a reward.

Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or, to report graffiti damage, visit goodbyegraffiti.wa.gov.au, or call 1800 442 255.

What everyone else is thinking

Naomi

29/10/2011

I think that any sentence would not defer them from petty graffiti crime.. Unless you make the punishment something harsh like life imprisonment. Graffiti is the result of either street teenage rebellion or rebellion art..

Kez's Soap Box

03/08/2011

100% agree with Gazza. WA Police do a brilliant job targeting offenders where they can, however we really need to rely on the judiaciary to apply harsher sentences. This may act as a diversion to would-be offenders.

gazza

02/08/2011

The police are doing a good job, as far as they are able, but WHY are the judiciary so lax in the sentencing? WHY are these vandals not made to pay the full cost of repairs / replacements on public property...even if it means a LIEN on their future dole payments.