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“The new ‘Stop Tagging Our Place’ initiative is going to not only make taggers more accountable, it’s going to make our community a better place too,” said Mr Gallagher. The Strategy includes the creation of a new offence for tagging and graffiti vandalism, under the recently introduced Summary Offences (Tagging and Graffiti vandalism) Amendment Bill. It proposes increased fines and effective community sentences, and those aged under 18 will also not be able to buy paint spraycans.  Mr Gallagher says that the Bill has come about as a direct result of input from communities like Hamilton and South Auckland. “In particular, the information and hard work of people like Olly Te Ua and the Hamilton City Council have been of great assistance,” he said. He would like to encourage community groups to continue to have input into the Bill as it goes through the public submissions process. “If I can be of assistance to the community groups in our electorate who take an interest in this Bill I would encourage them to approach my electorate office, “said Mr Gallagher. “While the submission period will be quite short, given the need to implement new anti-tagging legislation as soon as possible it is imperative that Law and Order Select Committee receive submissions promptly”. 

Until now, offenders have been merely charged with ‘defacing’, with a maximum fine of $200. Now the maximum fine will be $2,000 and/or a community-based sentence. “That sentence will enable judges to require offenders to undertake community work which puts right the wrong they’ve done, like cleaning up tagging and graffiti vandalism in their own communities,” said Mr Gallagher. “Restricting access to spraycans will also help prevent young people becoming part of the tagging sub-culture. “Tagging is a destructive crime and represents an invasion of private and public property. It makes our public spaces look distasteful.  “Hamilton has been plagued by tagging for way too long. I am proud to be part of the Labour-led Government that understands this issue, and is taking action to ensure a safe and secure environment for all members of our community.”

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