Council takes civil court action against graffiti vandal

Auckland City Council has filed a civil action in Auckland District Court against a prolific graffiti vandal in an effort to recover $33,000 in damage repair costs.

Community Services Committee chairperson, Councillor Paul Goldsmith, says civil court action is another tool for the council in the fight against graffiti vandalism.

“Auckland City Council has taken huge steps towards eliminating graffiti vandalism from the city over the past few years. This action we are taking is a New Zealand first and demonstrates the council’s intent to hold offenders fully accountable for their actions,” says Mr Goldsmith.

The 21-year-old man pleaded guilty to, and was convicted of 21 criminal intentional damage charges in September 2009 relating to graffiti vandalism.

He was arrested after Auckland City Council’s private investigators supplied information about his offending to Auckland City Police, who executed a search warrant at his residence and located substantial evidence showing he was a prolific graffiti vandal.

Damage costs of $2,100 were sought by the Police prosecutor. He was ordered to pay $500 reparation by the Court, as well as undertake community service.

Subsequently, the council’s graffiti tracker database captured a further 551 incidents of graffiti vandalism that it says he is responsible for.

The council has lodged a civil action at the Auckland District Court to recover the costs it has incurred as a result of the removal of the graffiti vandalism. The civil court process and the defendant’s response to the action will determine the next steps.

Graffiti currently costs ratepayers millions of dollars each year and also places considerable costs on private property owners and schools.

Since the council introduced a new eradication service in July 2008, graffiti has been removed from over 146,000 sites, and 176 offenders have been apprehended.

Auckland city is now 95% graffiti free as a result.

All graffiti is being photographed and entered into the graffiti database to track and identify offenders The top ten graffiti vandals are regularly targeted using camera surveillance and investigative operations and all evidence is handed to Auckland City Police.

The council also continues to work in partnership with local residents, with 778 volunteers helping to keep their communities graffiti free.

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