Over the past 2 weeks Hobart Police have identified 4 serial graffiti offenders, who are alleged to be responsible for over $20,000 damage to buildings and vehicles within the Hobart CBD.

4 males, aged between 15 years and 20 years have been identified by Hobart Police either through DNA and fingerprint analysis, or by being caught defacing buildings with their personal tags.

At this time these offenders are alleged to be responsible for over 100 graffiti tags.

The 3 juveniles will be proceeded against by way of restorative justice practices, which include formal cautioning and being required to repatriate the damage they have caused.  The 20 year old man will be summonsed to court at a later date, charged with marking graffiti and for being in possession of graffiti equipment in a public place.

However investigations are continuing, with more tags being identified on a daily basis.

Anyone convicted of these offences is liable for a maximum penalty of fines up to $2,600 for each offence.

“There is no excuse for people defacing other people’s property for their own personal gratification.  Anyone identified placing graffiti on public buildings will be subject to proceedings, regardless of their age,” Inspector Glen Woolley, Officer-in-Charge of the Hobart Police Division.

“Graffiti has a negative impact on community perceptions of safety and public amenity; it’s unsightly and people feel unsafe in areas affected by graffiti,” said Inspector Woolley.

“This investigation indicates a number of distinct groups of taggers who have been competing against one another for tagging recognition.”

Tasmania Police keep records of graffiti tags and whilst offenders may not be identified at the time the offence is committed they will be identified through other means of investigation.

Tasmania Police work closely with the Hobart City Council and the Safer Hobart Community Partnership in identifying and developing strategies to deter graffiti and developing or street art opportunities.