Private investigators to help catch vandals

PRIVATE investigators should be hired to film graffiti vandals in the act so there is more chance of them being brought to justice.

This is Leumeah business owner Les Turner’s proposal to control the scourge of graffiti spreading across the city.

“Everybody has had enough of graffiti but unless someone stands up nothing will happen,” he said.

Mr Turner would like Campbelltown Council to hire private investigators to watch well-known graffiti hot spots at night to collect the data.

“They could get it on film and call the police when they (vandals) are doing it. Then you’d have them on film and also caught in the act,” he said.

Mr Turner said there should be stricter fines for convicted graffiti vandals, who should also have to spend their weekends cleaning the mess.

“We should catch all the people doing it and put them on Saturday and Sunday cleaning, so then everyone would know who they are,” he said.

Mr Turner said businesses could raise the money needed for a private investigator if Campbelltown Council was unwilling to fund the initiative.

Campbelltown Mayor Russell Matheson said the council would listen to any ideas to reduce the number of graffiti attacks, but would not support “vigilante” tactics.

“As far as the vigilante stage goes I don’t think we’re there just yet. But we’d have to sit down and see exactly what the proposal is,” Cr Matheson said.

Supt Stuart Smith, of Campbelltown police, said two programs between police and the State Rail Authority had apprehended 12 graffiti vandals in the past three months using video surveillance.

“This idea has been active by these two groups. But there are some legal impediments when it comes to having a private agent,” Supt Smith said.

“But this idea does have merit. Graffiti is a problem that’s becoming more and more prevalent.”