More than 30 graffiti vandals have been arrested after a secret trial of new technology that automatically detects spray paint or permanent marker inside rail carriages.
Sydney Trains revealed an undisclosed number of trains had been fitted with the detection system named Mousetrap which was designed to ‘‘catch vandals in the act’’.
The rail authority said an electronic chemical sensor detected the vapour of spray paint and marker pens, and images were captured by CCTV and transmitted to staff.
The Police Transport Command could then be dispatched quickly to find and arrest the vandals.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the system was in the early stages of trial and evaluation but Sydney Trains was confident of the initial results.
‘‘Our message to graffiti vandals is clear: spray the paint and run the risk,’’ said Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins.
Mr Collins said graffiti removal on the Sydney Trains network had cost taxpayers $34 million last financial year — an increase of $30 million on the previous year.
Do you think this will system will reduce graffiti attacks on trains?
