The vandalism problem within this part of the shire is simply getting out of control. It is extremely hard to get police out in this area, as the Menai station is rarely staffed. It is hard to find a clean power pole within Illawong, and every power transformers is absolutely covered in graffiti. The Colts footy club house and nearby shipping container is cleaned one day, and within a few days is completely covered in graffiti. It is sad to say a lot of the graffiti vandals is coming out of our high school. Some sort of program needs to be introduced. Policing is so limited in this area, there needs to be quicker response and random drive pasts every now and then, someone is guaranteed to get caught. Tougher laws need to be introduced and also enforced, none of this warning stuff is going to get us any where. I am trying to keep our nearby streets cleaned, which includes removing paint off power poles and also reporting graffiti on transformers to Energy Australia, who hopefully one day clean it! Graffiti is getting out of control in this area, something needs to be done! I am not proud to live here in these current circumstances.

The comment by "WithHeld 16" "Tougher laws need to be introduced and also enforced, none of this warning stuff is going to get us anywhere" says it all. I talked to front line Police at three Police stations who said that in the main, " Police cautions" given to young graffiti vandals, are a waste of time. They agreed with my suggestion that giving the parents of 14 year olds caught vandalising property at 2.30am a $1000 fine would make a difference. Parents might then take more of an interest in what their offspring are up to at night. There appears to be no penalty for causing thousands of dollars damage in senseless vandalism, but park accidentally in a disabled spot or the wrong way in a quiet cul de sac, look out.

Clearly not enough for these kids to do in the area. What has the council done to overcome this problem?