Auckland City Council
Media release
06 November 2008
Eight of Auckland’s worst graffiti vandals arrested
Eight of the city’s ten most destructive graffiti vandals have been arrested since July this year and are presently
before the courts.
This is a result of a collaborative operation between Auckland City Council and the New Zealand Police to eradicate
graffiti vandalism in the city.
Councillor Paul Goldsmith, chairperson of the council’s Community Services Committee is very pleased with the results.
He says,”31 graffiti vandals have been arrested in the past four months, including eight of the ten graffiti vandals
causing the most damage across the city. The council’s focus is now to apprehend the next group of the city’s worst
graffiti vandals.”
“The 0800 STOP TAGS offender information hotline, which offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of graffiti vandals, is producing good results,” he says.
The council also introduced a new citywide eradication service in July, with contractors removing graffiti vandalism
seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The new service has seen graffiti vandalism removed from over 16,000 sites.
“Getting rid of graffiti vandalism demands a zero-tolerance approach and part of this involves removing the graffiti as
quickly and consistently as possible,” says Mr Goldsmith.
A single point of contact for all graffiti activities ensures a more effective approach to eradicate graffiti vandalism
and provides a more efficient way to record information required to support prevention and apprehension programmes.
The council encourages the public to call 0800 STOP TAGS (0800 7867 8247) with any information they have about graffiti
vandals and their associates.
Ends