→Attention and recognition
2.1 Thrilling risks
Some people enjoy the thrill of taking risks, and may become graffitists just for the excitement of it, since there are two parts to the thrill. ‘It has been documented that much of the spray paint used in graffiti is stolen, and that, in fact, part of the thrill of writing graffiti is stealing the paint.’ (Geason and Wilson 1990) The other part of the thrill is the fear of prosecution while attempting to write on publicity places at nighttime.
Attention and Recognition
Those who suffer from low self esteem might also become graffiti-vandals to boost their self-confidence up by thinking the outsmarted the police if they do not receive any penalties. Also, Logan Youth Outreach Worker Brett Cutting once stated that the teenagers vandalised with spray cans because the bigger the risk he/she took, the more status he/she would gain in his/her group.
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY GRAFFITI
Graffiti causes many social, economic and environmental problems
Social Problems
Graffiti contributes to a general sense of fear in the neighbourhood about crime. ‘It has been argued that graffiti creates an impression that crime is out of control, and that this, in turn could encourage other criminal activity.’ (Callinan 2002)
Another cost associated with these scribbles is that it could endanger the lives of those who attempt writing it. ‘For the eighteen months from mid 2001 to the end of 2002, nine people either died or were seriously injured while writing graffiti on the railway tracks in NSW alone.’ (Callinan 2002)
Economic Problems
Every year, the government spends an estimated cost of at least $300 million in graffiti prevention and removal schemes. This is a considerable large sum and would benefit all Australians if put into good use, such as offering more places and subsidizing the cost of studying in universities or build better facilities in some neighbourhoods.
Besides, tourists travelling to Brisbane might feel uncomfortable with seeing these scrawls, since it gives an impression that crime is out of control. This might have a great impact on both the tourism industry and QANTAS, one of Australia’s largest airline companies.
Environmental
Survey results (See Appendix B) show that many Fruitgrove residents find these hideous daubs not only distressing as it destroys the natural environmental surroundings, but also degrades the quality of life. Moreover, residents are anxious that the value of their property might be affected if graffiti continues to spread.
CONCLUSION
The research gives evidence that Graffiti is a very serious issue and should be dealt with quickly.
Writing Graffiti usually means committing two crimes-stealing the paint and vandalising private or public property.
Graffiti creates a sense of fear about crime around the neighbourhood.
4.3 Drawing graffiti (especially on railway tracks)
4.4 The government spends a considerably large amount of money in graffiti prevention and removal every year. This sum could benefit many if graffiti was decreased.
4.5 Many residents believe graffiti is distressing and would not only degrade the quality of life but also the value of their land.
If this issue is ignored, more serious problems would arise.
4.6 Since there are no severe penalties, more teenagers would become graffiti vandals, and the neighbourhood would become an eyesore.
4.7 In the long run, if the problem about graffiti is still ignored, the government would have to spend an even larger sum than now to remove it.
5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS/PROPOSAL
The Local council could help eliminate further cases of graffiti in a number of ways. The general strategy is to make the crime too difficult to commit and not make it worthwhile.
Social
5.11 Run educational programs about graffiti prevention and removal during weekends at suitable times on television
(However, making television programs are fairly expensive)
- Put educational pamphlets (See Appendix C) in letterboxes rather than only in some Logan City Council Libraries.
(This idea is wonderful because it is an inexpensive and possibly effective way of preventing graffiti)
- Pass a legislation which does not permit the public to access spray paints without a retailer.
(This proposal appears to be useful but many disagree with this because it would be very inconvenient for those who need it for legal purposes)
- Encourage Community Surveillance such as
→Neighbour Watch
→Crime Stoppers
→Provide specific hotlines to report graffiti
(This is an efficient recommendation, which works with minimal cost)
- Establish appropriate spaces for a graffitist to exhibit their work at a subsidized cost. It is considered as an effective way of providing self-esteem, attention and recognition for the graffiti-artist.
(This proposal gives the graffitist a chance to display their talents in an alternative place. Therefore, there would be fewer cases of graffiti since the graffitist might choose to do legal graffiti instead. However, there are many residents who dislike this idea because they believe it degrades the suburb as much as illegal graffiti)
5.16 1st August (Graffiti Clean Up Day) should be made a public so that everyone can be involved with graffiti removal.
(The majority of the residents who completed this survey liked this idea. However, it may cause a lot of trouble, especially to employers)
5.17 In the 1970s, New York developed a variety of anti-graffiti strategies, which proved to be successful over time. These includes punishing the offenders by making them clean up graffiti marked areas, using razor wire fencing to protect the area, and developing materials to ease graffiti removal.
(This is an ideal plan because graffiti decreased dramatically in New York a while after these strategies were developed. These strategies should help decrease the graffiti in Australia as well as it did in New York)
Environmental
5.21 Encourage owners to build plants and shrubs alongside the wall. Not only does it eliminate the access, but also enhances the property and beautification of the suburb.
Economical
- Consider providing free public transport for young people on weekends to give them alternative recreational opportunities.
(Many people disagreed with this because it might result in a tax increase. Also, the government might have to spend an even larger sum than graffiti removal schemes on this)
APPENDIX
Appendix A
Appendix A
Appendix A
Appendix A
Appendix B
GRAFFITI
- Do you think graffiti is a major problem around Fruitgrove/Runcorn?
ڤYes ڤKind of ڤNo
- Do you think graffiti destroys the natural surroundings and lowers quality of life around the neighbourhood?
ڤYes ڤI don’t care ڤNo
- Do you think affects the value of your property?
ڤYes ڤI don’t know ڤNo
- Do you think the government should establish appropriate places for legal graffiti to be done?
ڤYes ڤI don’t care ڤNo
- If you answered I don’t care or No, do you think legal graffiti degrades local areas just as much as illegal graffiti?
ڤYes ڤNo idea ڤAffects Less
-
Do you think 1st August (Graffiti Clean Up Day) should be made a public holiday so that everyone can help clean up?
ڤYes ڤMaybe ڤNo
- If the government provides free public trans port for young people on weekends to provide greater access to alternative recreation opportunities to stop graffiti, would you agree if they increase your tax rates by 1%?
ڤYes ڤI don’t care ڤNo
- Do you think graffiti vandals deserve to be punished by making the offenders clean up the graffiti marked areas?
ڤYes ڤMaybe ڤNo
Appendix C
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books
-
Felson, M. 1998, Crime and Everyday Life, 2nd Edition Research and Public Police Series No. 31, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra
-
Geason, S. and Wilson, P. 1990, Preventing Graffiti and Vandalism, Crime Prevention Series, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra, ACT
-
Halsey, M. 2002, The Meanings of Graffiti and Municipal Administration, The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, Vol 35, No 2 pp 165-186
Internet Sites
Newspaper Articles
- Courier Mail
