Even though the NSW Premier has promised to get tough on graffiti, it doesn't seem to have deterred some.

This artistic effort has appeared up the road, is nothing but mindless wilful vandalism.

What will happen when those recently caught appear in court?

As I didn't get a reply to two emails to my Mayor Lorraine Kelly about graffiti, I'll go through the Leader newspaper's letters page to see if I get a response

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2007/12/26/sin_no_more

If ratepayers who pay for graffiti and other vandalism were informed in flyers included in with their rate notices, and a special mailout just before the next State election letting ratepayers/voters know how all local candidates stand on youth crime,and if they really care about young criminals running amok at night, there might be a bit of REAL action in Macquarie st

One reason the RTA has for using the "preferred" expensive flashing lights is that they are equipped with a "back to base" fault reporting function.
A necessary feature they say, so that units that break down can for the children's safety be repaired promptly.

These lights are on Forest rd Hurstville and this photo was taken at 2.50pm today a gazetted school day.

This unit has not worked since last Friday.

Why does it take this long if it takes to fix this one, when there are (relatively speaking), only a few of NSW's school zones that have flashing lights.

Teen arrested for malicious damage at Menai

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/teen-arrested-for-malicious-damage-at-menai/1676862.aspx

The Police have done their job but what will happen in court?

Mayor get's tough???

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/political/mayors-get-tough-call/1679887.aspx

Did the mayor tell Mr Rees that there have been 9 minors caught recently doing graffiti and all received Police cautions.
Has the mayor contacted other mayors to help get the "let off minors with a caution laws" changed?

Youths arrested over spray paint theft

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/youths-arrested-over-spray-paint-theft/story-e6freuz0-1225796941353

POLICE have charged two youths (15 and 16) with the theft of a large quantity of spray paint allegedly linked to a spike in graffiti offences in the Blue Mountains area in NSW.

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Graffiti arrest at Jannali 1.30am Thurs 12 nov.

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/graffiti-arrest-at-jannali/1675961.aspx

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13/11/09 Teens face graffiti charges after crackdown

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/teens-face-charges-after-graffiti-crackdown/story-e6freuz0-1225797431216

A graffiti blog site had this line about a Mitre 10 store in Paddington

"I've had so many young writers confront me outside the place asking me if i could buy them paint because they are under 18 !! Naturally i obliged, it's not like it's alcahol or anything !! "

Step 1 .......Place oily rags in a 44 gallon drum and position the drum near the ship's ventilation system.

Step 2 .......Set fire to drum making sure that the smoke gets around whole ship and can be seen from shore

Step 3 .....Have lots of fire alarms going with worried looking life- vested sailors running around, declare an emergency and evacuate ship.

and for "safety" reasons don't let them back on board and sail off back to Australia.

Will Police cautions here end up like in the UK?

"it was claimed that up to 40,000 assaults a year are dealt with by a caution issued by the police instead of the offender being prosecuted in court. In cases cited today, a 15-year-old boy was cautioned for rape and a man was given a caution after smashing a glass into a pub landlady's face."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/09/jack-straw-police-cautions-review

Just missed out on Jail

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/graffiti-group-nabbed/1671749.aspx

How lucky were they that the Premier tough new jail laws weren't in yet

No reply as yet to my email about graffiti to my local MP Barry Collier.

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I emailed the Telegraph

(Yoursay Daily Telegraph 10/11/09)

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2007/12/26/sin_no_more

The letters editor "for space reasons" shortened my letter, see link above.

I sent Jason Morrisson at 2GB the four links of minors receiving "Police cautions" in the Sutherland Shire.

Supercheap Auto the graffiti vandals friend.

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2009/10/12/supercheap_auto_the_graffiti_vandals_fri

Links for newspaper stories about 3 lots of graffiti "artists caught and let go in the last 6 weeks.

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2009/11/02/title_67

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I emailed the opposition leader Barry O'Farrell
in June about graffiti.

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2007/12/29/common_sense

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2007/12/29/common_sense

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http://www.smh.com.au/national/spraycan-vandals-face-prison-under-crackdown-20091107-i2ss.html

We've had a gutful...NSW Premier Nathan Rees stands in Cox Lane, Toongabbie, near his home in Western Sydney. Juveniles must now have a legitimate reason for having spray paint on their person Photo: Adam Hollingworth

RTA "preferred" flashing lights installed today at The Boulevarde Gymea near The Princes highway.

Note the brake lights
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Peter Olsen's Flashing lights at Peakhurst

Note the brake lights.

THEY BOTH DO THE SAME JOB .... SLOW CARS

Which flashing lights are the the best value for the taxpayers dollar?

Peter Olsen's lights cost..........$350 each.

The RTA preferred lights cost...$58,125 each. (or 800 signs for $46.5M )

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20070927015

What can I say?

Graffiti vandals sentenced to talking, tea and scones

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/graffiti-vandals-sentenced-to-talking-tea-and-scones/story-e6freuy9-1225794061401

"It makes me mad, but you can't tell teenagers anything - or you can, but they won't listen."

"they need discipline."

After reading the scone and jam article I emailed The Daily Telegraph

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2007/11/01/houston_i_have_a_problem

This bit was printed this morning

My original must've been a bit long.

I also emailed my local State Member Mr Barry Collier MP on Wednesday morning, I'll post a reply when I get one.

He as the member for Miranda must be dismayed with the leval of graffiti vandalism in his electorate.

This clever work in Oak road Kirrawee

To be continued.....

We are urged to "look out for vandals during the holidays"

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/look-out-vandals-about-in-holidays/1643621.aspx

Because graffiti vandals mainly sneak around at night to do their destructive rubbish, they are very rarely caught.

Although in the last few weeks four young graffiti grubs have been apprehended.

These two early October

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/teens-arrested-after-graffiti-found/1640896.aspx

"Police gave the teenagers OFFICAL CAUTIONS"

I don't read anywhere that the parents or the vandals cleaned the up mess, or paid for it to be done.

this young individual in Kirrawee

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/graffiti-teen-arrested/1660635.aspx

"The Sutherland boy was CAUTIONED under the Young Offenders Act."

and this one in September in Kirrawee

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/graffiti-youth-nabbed-with-help-from-the-public/1633388.aspx

and "the police gave him a youth caution"

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In Perth earlier this year:

This fellow needs a "Police Caution"

(Highlight and drag whole link into browser)

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/comments/0,21590,24958175-2761,00.html

.

To make it clear to a minor that illegal activity will not be tolerated this happened on Tuesday night

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/girl-15-cautioned-for-driving-stolen-car/story-e6freuz0-1225794530514
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I WENT TO A POLICE STATION TO ASK WHAT A "POLICE CAUTION" WAS.

I was told that if the person arrested and charged, admits to the crime, and agrees, then they get a police caution.

This consists of a talk, pointing out that what they have done, is bad

I suggested to the officer that maybe a fine of a $1000 to the parent of a minor caught doing graffiti might be more of a deterrent, and the parent would then perhaps keep a closer eye on what their child gets up to.

I said that if I mistakenly park in a disabled spot I can get fined $405, but someone caught doing thousands of dollars damage with a $2.50 can of spray paint, gets a talking to.

Obviously on the record the officer couldn't comment and they have to follow procedure, and explained that as the law stands that's all they can do.

"You should write to someone" the officer said.

"The Sutherland mayor hasn't replied to 2 emails* from me on this subject." I said.

Later:

I rang Sutherland Council and was put through to a graffiti person who agreed that as it is so hard to catch graffiti vandals that when you do they should be made an example of.
I popped into Rockdale Council and was told the same by council staff and a young Policewoman outside Kogarah Police station told me that young offenders treat police cautions as a joke.
A polite young Policeman at Miranda Police station, shall I say, didn't disagree with me that maybe a $1000 dollar fine for parents of minors caught graffiting, would be more of a deterrent than a "Police caution".
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Update Fri 6 Nov

* I wrote to the Mayor about TV advertising during the Bathhurst 1000

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2009/10/12/supercheap_auto_the_graffiti_vandals_fri

More about Supercheap Auto that in previous pages.

To be continued....

Two doors up from my place is a council "park" that used to have a climbing fort swings and a slide, but they were removed for some reason leaving only a seat.
Last night to make the streetscape better some grub has sprayed one fence

I've emailed the mayor twice recentily about graffiti matters and had ...NO Reply.

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2009/10/18/no_reply

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2009/10/21/feedback

Mayor Lorraine Kelly

Does the mayor really care about graffiti?