Students drawn to combat vandalism
VICTORIA Police have developed an education tool for parents explaining the consequences for youth vandals and how parents can help their children if they are involved in graffiti.
The packs are part of a State Government crackdown bolstered by a $23,000 anti-graffiti mural and education workshop project.
Police can search children as young as 14 if they suspect they are in possession of a spray can.
More than 2000 young people in Ocean Grove have helped design anti-graffiti murals to tackle vandalism at Shell Rd sporting precinct.
Police Minister Lisa Neville yesterday visited the Bellarine Sport and Aquatic Centre where 16 of the boards designed by students who teamed with artists have been installed.
“Graffiti has negative consequences for offenders but also our community. That’s why we’re working with young people to help them understand those costs,” Ms Neville said.
“These workshops get our local youth involved in designing these murals to help give them ownership for these spaces within their communities.”
Bellarine Secondary College Year 9 student Tanika Brown was one of the students who contributed.
“It’s a great project because everyone worked on it together,” Tanika said.
The City of Greater Geelong received $23,000 from the State Government through last year’s round of graffiti prevention grants. The council also contributed almost $3000 to the project.
A What Happens Next information pack has also been developed for Victoria Police, who will use it to educate parents about how they can help if their children are involved in graffiti.
Bellarine Acting Senior Sergeant Dean Parello said the city’s graffiti reporting system and anti-graffiti projects were helping identify offenders and curb vandalism.
“It looks ugly and there is a tremendous cost to clean up graffiti,” Sen-Sgt Parello said.
The Government has provided more than $1.1 million in funding.