Graffiti facts and figures

Exact figures in regard to graffiti vandalism are hard to obtain, both because graffiti vandalism is an under-reported crime, and due to irregular and inconsistent reporting of data by government agencies, businesses, the community and private property owners. The following statistics should be considered in this light.

What is graffiti vandalism?

The term 'graffiti vandalism' refers to illegally defacing private or public property with markings and/or graphics without the owner's consent. Graffiti is illegal and an offence under the Graffiti Control Act 2008 (NSW) and the NSW Crimes Act 1900. Types of graffiti contained within this definition include tagging, etching and murals.

Graffiti vandalism is a crime. It is the act of marking or defacing premises or other property without permission.

Graffiti vandalism significantly affects individuals and the community. The removal and prevention of graffiti vandalism is very costly to the community. Tens of millions of tax payer dollars are being spent annually on cleaning up graffiti and repairing the damage that it causes. Spending this public money on cleaning graffiti means that money is not being spent on things that can benefit the community.

Graffiti vandalism can also make people feel unsafe. A recent survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 21 per cent of the respondents in NSW perceived graffiti to be a social disorder problem in their local area.

Graffiti vandalism can be a dangerous activity. Graffiti is often applied in dangerous locations, such as along train tracks, train corridors and train tunnels. The Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator (ITSRR) has reported that the majority of recorded rail fatalities are trespassers on the rail network.  

Graffiti may also be affecting both the health of those who do it because they breathe in fumes from aerosol paint. It could also be affecting the environment because of the chemicals being used to remove it.

The incidence of graffiti

A total of 40,317 incidents of graffiti were reported to NSW Police in the five-year period to June 2016 (July 2011 to June 2016), with an average annual number of incidents per year of 8,063. There has been an overall downward trend in graffiti incidents reported to Police over the past five years, down an average of 7.5 per cent per year.

Graffiti hotspots

Graffiti hotspots are those Local Government Area (LGAs) with the highest number of recorded incidences of graffiti. The table below lists the top 10 LGAs in NSW with the highest number of graffiti incidents in 2016.

Top 10 LGAs for graffiti

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), 2016.

Graffiti targets

In the 2015–2016 financial year, the premises type most commonly reported to police as being targets of graffiti vandalism were residential dwellings (26.8 per cent). This was followed by public transport (19.7 per cent), business/commercial (18.6 per cent) and outdoor/public places (15.3 per cent).

Most common premise types for graffiti

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), 2016.

Graffiti offenders

Graffiti vandalism is a crime for which it is difficult to apprehend and therefore, prosecute offenders. For the five years between 2011 and 2016, there were 40,317 graffiti incidents reported to police. Males represented 88.9 per cent (4,338) of all people proceeded against. Juveniles have historically made up a significant portion (60.2 per cent) of those proceeded against.

Graffiti and your community

Below are some tips as to how you can help prevent graffiti in your local community:

Report graffiti

Graffiti vandalism is not just unsightly. It can also reduce people’s sense of safety by:

• giving the impression that nobody cares about the affected area
• attracting further crime and delinquency to that place.

Graffiti vandalism is also against the law and should be reported.

Take action and report graffiti vandalism to the NSW Graffiti Hotline (free call 1800 707 125).

Clean up graffiti

You can contact your local council to see if they run a volunteer program, or if they can put you in contact with community groups who are involved in volunteer graffiti removal programs. In addition to creating a cleaner community, joining a volunteer program can broaden your life experience, help you meet new people in your community and give you the satisfaction of developing and participating in community life. For example, NSW Rotary is actively involved in graffiti removal at a number of sites across NSW.

Graffiti Removal Day

The NSW Government has established an annual state-wide graffiti removal and prevention day known as 'Graffiti Removal Day'. The aim of the day is to encourage people to volunteer their time and get involved in the removal and prevention of graffiti. For more information go to the Graffiti Removal Day website.

Graffiti prevention

Removing graffiti can be a time consuming and difficult job. By taking preventative action you can avoid some of the expense and effort of removing graffiti.

Maintenance

Keep your property clean and tidy, and free of rubbish, weeds and damage, to show that you care about your property and that vandalism will not be tolerated. Encourage your neighbours to maintain their properties so the whole neighbourhood appears neat and clean.

Fencing

Consider installing a metal cyclone fence, a fence constructed with natural materials (e.g. bamboo or bush reed), or bar fencing (e.g. pool or wrought iron fencing) that does not offer the flat continuous surface graffiti vandals prefer. Textured surfaces are difficult to spray paint and makes graffiti hard to read. Graffiti vandals are less likely to vandalise such surfaces as they won’t get the recognition they desire.

Paint colour

Discourage graffiti vandals from vandalising your walls and fences by painting them with darker colours. Graffiti is less noticeable on darker coloured surfaces and is less likely to give the vandal the recognition they are looking for. Always keep extra paint on hand so graffiti vandalism can be covered-over quickly.

Protective coatings

For areas that are repeatedly vandalised, use graffiti resistant materials or protective coatings so graffiti can be easily removed.

Vegetation

Install trellis on blank walls and fences to create an uneven surface. Alternatively, plant thorny and/or climbing vegetation in front of walls and fences to deter graffiti vandals. Climbing plants will make the surface difficult to graffiti.

Security

Ensure your property has adequate security to prevent access by graffiti vandals. Restrict access to walls and other flat surfaces by installing locks, fences and gates. Secure items such as benches, barbecues and wheelie bins so they can’t be used to gain access to walls or rooftops.

Lighting

Graffiti vandalism is often conducted in areas that are poorly lit in order to reduce the risk of getting caught or reported. Consider motion-activated lights and request your local council install lighting in community areas that are often dark and vandalised with graffiti.

Report

Report instances of graffiti vandalism to the NSW Graffiti Hotline at the earliest opportunity.

Graffiti removal

One of the most effective strategies against illegal graffiti is to remove it as quickly as possible and to persist in removing it every time it occurs.

The three key steps in effective graffiti removal and prevention are:

1. Identify the surface type and substance to be removed.
2. Select the appropriate removal method.
3. Where possible apply preventative measures.

Where practicable, graffiti is always more easily removed if done so as soon as possible after occurrence and before the paint has fully dried.

Surface types and appropriate removal methods

The most common surface types for graffiti vandalism are:

• Porous surfaces such as brickwork, concrete and soft stone.
• Non-porous or painted surfaces such as colourbond steel and sign posts.

Porous surfaces

The most important thing to remember when removing graffiti from porous surfaces is to use the correct graffiti removal solution. Solutions vary, but typically the stronger the solution, such as a chemical solvent, the faster it will dissolve or remove paint. These solutions can be bought from local suppliers in your area. The strength of solution needed depends on the type of surface the graffiti is on. It is also important to take the proper safety precautions. It is a good idea to use face shields and rubber gloves when using graffiti removal solutions. To remove graffiti from porous surfaces:

• Apply the appropriate graffiti removal solution onto the surface with a small brush.
• After waiting between 10 and 20 minutes, use either a hose or water-blaster to remove the graffiti.

Non-porous surfaces

For graffiti on non-porous or painted surfaces such as colorbond steel and sign-posts the only really effective removal technique is to actually repaint the defaced area. This involves either repainting the whole wall, or targeting just the graffitied area itself. This means that the paint has to be colour matched to the original wall’s paint colour.

To colour match the paint you need to obtain a small paint sample from the graffitied site. Then just take the sample to your local hardware store where it can be colour-matched. It is good practice to label and store any unused paint so it is available to cover repeat graffiti at the same site. To paint out graffiti incidents on non-porous surfaces:

• Using a brush or roller you must first apply a coat of stain blocker (primer) to the graffitied area. You need to put this primer on first otherwise you will find that the graffiti shows through the layers of fresh paint. This takes around 15 minutes to dry.
• Still using a brush or roller, apply colour-matched paint, usually this would be acrylic paint. A second coat may be required.

You will find that if the graffiti is very fresh and the paint has not yet dried the graffiti can be removed using the appropriate graffiti removal solution for non-porous surfaces and some steel wool.

Note: this can only be done in the first few days of the graffiti being applied. If a texta pen has been used, methylated spirits can be effective.

Preventative measures

Applying preventative or anti-graffiti coatings are also an effective way to prevent graffiti vandalism.

Anti-graffiti coatings

There are two types of anti-graffiti coatings:

• sacrifical
• non-sacrificial or permanent.

Sacrificial coatings are protective, but come off when graffiti is removed and must be reapplied. Non-sacrificial or permanent anti-graffiti coatings are unaffected by the graffiti removal process and remain on the surface, however they are more hazardous and difficult to apply. These coatings can be bought from local suppliers in your area.

Graffiti and the law

What is a graffiti-related offence?

Under the Graffiti Control Act 2008 (NSW), graffiti-related offences include:

• marking premises or property
• possession of graffiti implement
• posting bills.

Graffiti implements include the following:

• spray paint
• marker pens
• any implement designed or modified to produce a mark that is not readily removable by use of water or detergent.

Penalties for graffiti offences

Under the Graffiti Control Act 2008 (NSW), the following penalties can be applied by courts:

• Marking property can attract a fine up to $440, or, for an aggravated offence, $2,200 or 12 months imprisonment (Section 4).
• Possessing a graffiti implement with intent can attract a fine up to $1,100 or six months imprisonment (Section 5).
• Persons under 18 years carrying spray paint cans in public can attract a find of up to $440 or six months imprisonment (Section 8B).
• Bill posting can attract a fine of up to $440 (Section 6).
• A court may also impose a community service order, instead of a fine, for damaging or defacing property, or for possession of a graffiti implement, directing the offender to perform community service work that involves graffiti clean up work where practicable.
• A court may also, in addition to or instead of imposing a fine on a person, also make a driver licence order, extending a learner or provisional driver licence period, or specifiy demerit points for holders of an unrestricted driver licence.

Under the NSW Crimes Act (1900), there are penalties of up to five years in prison for maliciously damaging property.

Graffiti removal work by councils

Section 12 empowers local councils to remove graffiti on private property without the owner or occupier's consent if the graffiti is visible from a public place. Removal without consent must be carried out from public land at the council's own expense.

What the NSW Government is doing

The NSW Government has made a number of commitments to reduce the incidence of graffiti vandalism in NSW.

New NSW laws relating to graffiti

• Require young offenders charged with graffiti offences to appear before a court.
• Introduce drivers licence penalties for offenders as an additional penalty available for the courts for graffiti offenders.
• Strengthen Community Service Orders by requiring courts to order that graffiti clean up work be a condition of a Community Service Order for a graffiti offence where reasonably practicable.

The Government has also

• Established a single state-wide hotline – 1800 707 125 – for the public to report graffiti in their community and get it removed (reporting graffiti).
• Provided support for voluntary graffiti removal squads in local areas, in partnership with local government and communities.
• Continues to work on reducing the incidence of graffiti vandalism in the community through the implementation of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) projects in hotspot areas in NSW.

Further information

More detailed information on graffiti vandalism in NSW may be found on the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) website.