Auckland City Council
Media release

20 June 2008

Graffiti vandal convicted of criminal damage

An 18 year-old Mt Roskill man appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday charged with criminal damage.

He was arrested by the police for graffiti vandalism on Thursday, 12 June after his photo appeared on Police 10-7 the previous night.

The photographic evidence of the offender vandalising a property at Hillsborough was obtained during a covert surveillance operation by Auckland City Council.

The offender pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay the council $235 reparation to clean up the damage and perform 100 hours of community service.

Community Services Committee chairperson, Councillor Paul Goldsmith, is pleased the man has been convicted and says the sentence given for this incident shows that the courts are starting to treat graffiti vandalism offending seriously.

“Auckland City Council faces a plague of graffiti vandalism. The best way to stop young people offending is to hold them fully accountable for their actions,” he says.

Since starting in October 2000, the council’s zero tolerance to graffiti vandalism programme has helped apprehend over 500 graffiti vandals and remove graffiti vandalism from more than 142,000 sites.

Over 600 volunteers are currently working in partnership with the council to keep their communities graffiti-free.

The council reminds the public to call 0800 STOP TAGS (0800 7867 8247) with any information they have about graffiti vandals and their associates. The trial of this number runs until 30 June.

The public can also continue reporting graffiti vandalism for removal through the council’s call centre on 379 2020.

ENDS

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