AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

20 June 2006

Graffiti prevention goes online

Auckland City is offering Auckland residents a new way of reporting graffiti damage to their property - an online service.

The electronic form is on the website, www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/services/graffiti . This form is self-explanatory and easy to fill out. The information provided will assist Auckland City with existing community initiatives such as eradication, prevention and education, which are proven methods to combating graffiti crime.

Graffiti prevention officer Rob Shields says that Auckland City's zero tolerance to graffiti vandalism programme has removed graffiti from 91,000 sites since its inception in 2000. Almost 8,000 sites were cleaned in the last quarter (Jan-Apr 06).

"A zero tolerance attitude, including high vigilance towards removing tagging, sending photos to our database, and holding vandals accountable for their offending, are all measures that deter the perpetrators. The easier it is for people to get involved in our programme, the more effective we can be in combating graffiti vandalism. Aucklanders are now starting to feel empowered and can see the value of joining our anti graffiti strategy."

Photos can be emailed to notags@cityparks.co.nz, which are added to the graffiti tracker database to effectively record evidence and monitor trends in graffiti type, frequency and location.

Councillor Graeme Mulholland, chairperson of the Public Safety and Community Order Committee says, "We don't see graffiti as an art form. We see it as wilful damage and therefore a crime. We want the community's assistance to keep to our goal of zero tolerance."

People can still request removal through the Auckland City call centre on (09) 379 2020. This new online resource provides an extension to the existing free graffiti removal service offered to private properties with immediate street frontage.

ENDS

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