‘Please explain’

By Casey Neill
MAGISTRATES are to be asked to explain why they are letting Upwey’s ‘dropkick’ vandals off with ‘a slap on the wrists’.
Councillor Noel Cliff wants the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria to explain the sentences handed down to offenders found guilty of vandalism in the area.
His calls followed a second attack on the Upwey and District Community Bank in recent weeks.
Yarra Ranges Shire has set up a working group of police, shire, community and school representatives.
Cr Cliff says graffiti in Upwey is out of control.
He said surveillance cameras, many installed by the shire, provided police with the evidence to catch and charge offenders.
However, he said that when the vandals are taken to court they are let off with a ‘slap on the wrist’.
“It would be better if the courts could punish graffiti offenders so that the message gets out that if you get caught you’re going to be punished.”
Cr Cliff last week called for the shire to write a letter to the court.
Although the decision was delayed to allow council to seek legal advice, Cr Cliff was confident the motion would be passed.
“We’re wasting too much money on graffiti and vandalism,” he said.
“The money could go into facilities these dropkicks could use.”
Cr Cliff said the shire spent close to $200,000 a year on graffiti removal.
Board chairman Peter Marke said he was incensed by the damage done to the bank on 8 February. “I think idiocy, a lack of values, an apparent low level of intelligence and questionable upbringing again personifies the offenders,” he said.
“It is clearly time that we as a community demanded greater attention to this type of crime.”
Mr Marke said the graffiti on the bank’s walls would cost “a considerable amount” of money to remove.
A glass door etched with tags in the previous attack would cost $1000 to replace, and the scratched surround of the bank’s ATM had a price tag of $2000.
“In the bank’s case, every dollar we spend on cleaning up this mess is a dollar we can’t return to the community,” he said.
Mr Marke urged local residents to write to the Premier and the Chief Commissioner of Police demanding additional resources to help the local police tackle the matter.
“If something is not done soon our local businesses could face serious financial hardship,” he said. Monbulk MP James Merlino said the State Government was committed to tackling graffiti.
He said the Graffiti Prevention Act would come into force in the coming months and was in addition to the $4.5 million allocated in the last State Budget.
“We will continue to work in partnership with the community to wipe out graffiti vandalism and send a clear message that it isn’t tolerated,” he said.
Sen Sgt Berglund said police, the shire, township group and schools were working together to combat Upwey’s graffiti and vandalism problem.
A flag being flown at half mast was stolen from Upwey Fire Brigade on 29 January, and a window was smashed with a street sign at Upwey Real Estate after a teen party on 21 January.
A youth has been charged and bailed in relation to graffiti attacks in Upwey and is due to face the Children’s Court.