When thoughtless reporting pushes state agenda

Cheap shots and a slow news day saw a less than even-handed piece aired on Gold Coast television to evoke some viewers outrage – not at the graffitists but the ‘manipulative’ reporting.

Image, right: End of the world as we know it

Our local NBN copped the wrath, though it appeared to be a QTQ story from reporter Petrina Zaphir rebadged for them.

As the story goes, several Gold Coast youth crudely defaced a road bridge and so mortified locals that constabulary diverted pursuit of murderers, thieves, terrorists, and rapists to snare instead kids with cans.

Viewers found (assuming, as I did) QTQ quite difficult to pin down on the wide web, so NBN – which at least has an easily-discovered web presence – took the flak.

Viewer’s ire included:

i think these kids should be given a chance. they shouldn’t go to jail, and if they are still at school i think they shouldn’t be expelled. everybody makes mistakes once in a while, and this was there one big mistake that everybody makes in their life. i think they are sorry for what they did, but as every 18 year old boy would, they think it is funny.

I am very dissatisfied of your reporting of the incident where numerous teenagers were at court for graffiting on the Gold Coast. Whilst I recognise their actions are wrong, I believe NBN did not simply report the facts- the reporter put out her biased, opinionated statement about the various teenagers. News should not be opinionated, news should be straight facts. Your reporter took it into her hands to give abuse to the teens and put them in an unfair situation.

This is a pathetic showcase of disgraceful reporting.

This incident should remain a private matter for the group of boys involved; to display this in the way which you have is both pitiable and un-newsworthy.

To say that their behaviour outside of court “left a lot to be desired”, is a complete and utter lie. These boys were obviously trying to maintain their privacy and you have shoved your meddling cameras in their faces.

.. the boys foolish actions have already been dealt with by the court by a means which they think was suitable. the media has unwittingly taken this issue into their own hands. they have severely embellished the truth: what disgusting actions. this is also a case of media shadenfruede … these actions of the media will create new consequences for the boys pertaining to school.

News organisations have long played the State’s game of pressing buttons and exploiting scapegoats.

At least some viewers see through it.

THIS IS NOT NEWS. (And in this case, nor was it art!)

Crack down on graffiti vandals

The NSW Government is getting tougher on young graffiti offenders in the Hunter with changes to the Young Offenders Regulation and a police blitz at graffiti hotspots.

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Newcastle Jodi McKay said the Government is amending the Young Offenders Regulation and forcing young vandals to either clean up their mess, pay compensation to their victim or undertake a training program.

Traditionally, young offenders in the Hunter who have committed a crime can participate in the Department of Juvenile Justice’s Young Offenders program, which includes removing graffiti,” Ms McKay said.

These amendments take this rehabilitation one-step further by making it compulsory for all graffiti vandals to participate.”

Ms McKay, who was joined today by Local Area Commander Max Mitchell, also announced local police will be stepping up patrols of known graffiti areas and ensuring young offenders take responsibility for their actions.

Graffiti costs the community millions of dollars a year, money which could be better spent on valuable community projects,” Ms McKay said.

RailCorp spends up to $15 million every year wiping out graffiti, while local councils spend an average of $65,000 on clean-up operations.

The community has simply had enough with vandals and we are taking steps to significantly reduce the number of reported graffiti incidents every year.

Vandals must be must be held responsible for their destructive behaviour.”

The latest crackdown on graffiti vandals involves a whole-of-government approach, and includes:

• An overhaul of prevention and clean-up measures;
• A blitz by the Office of Fair Trading to ensure retailers are complying with the new laws on the sale of spray cans; **
• Closer co-operation with local councils to identify new initiatives

Earlier this year the Government prohibited the sale of spray paint to under-18s, imposed fines of $2,200 and six-month jail terms and established the Anti-Graffiti Action team.

Newcastle City Council Lord Mayor, Cr John Tate said Council had undertaken a number of measures to complement the push by the NSW Government.

We recently launched a Graffiti Hotline to make it easy for people to report graffiti and help council direct clean up efforts,” Cr Tate said.

We have also employed a Graffiti Team Leader to drive rapid response efforts, develop protocols for graffiti removal and work with the community to prevent graffiti in our city and suburbs”

Ms McKay said community support is crucial to the success of the state wide campaign.

I would like to encourage anyone who has information on graffiti vandals to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, 24 hours a day – 7 days a week, Ms McKay said.

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GJman says: Whose time is being wasted with this regressive and futile legislation, masquerading as “government action”? 

The only outcome is a new set of criminals – unwary retailers – and perplexed innocent kids needing hobbyist supplies.

Stifling regulations on this everyday item is just another impediment to doing business in this increasingly miserable State of NSW, one our parents would have ridiculed into the Pacific Ocean, and chased the idiot pollies who dreamt them up.

Ergo:

Arrest after sale of spray paint to teenagers – Wentworthville  - 11 July 2009

An art shop proprietor will face court next month after allegedly selling cans of spray paint to a teenager.

Police from the Parramatta Commuter Crime Unit were patrolling Wentworthville Railway Station when they spoke to three juveniles about transport offences and subsequently found they had a box containing cans of spray paint and aerosol can nozzles.

Inquiries began immediately about where the youths obtained the cans of spray paint.

As a part of those inquiries, police interviewed a 24-year-old Wentworthville art shop proprietor. The 24-year-old man will appear at Parramatta Local Court on 19 August to answer a charge of “sell spray paint can to a person under 18 years of age.” He was charged under the Graffiti Control Act of 2008.

Inquiries into where the youths obtained the other 10 cans of spray point in the box are still continuing.

Well, duh! Where they all get them from .. stolen or black market.

Three arrested by Rail Vandalism Task Force – North Gosford

Police from the Rail Vandalism Task Force raided a home north of Sydney yesterday, following the arrest of three men last month.

On Monday 22 June, police from the Rail Vandalism Task Force conducted a joint operation at Gosford rail yards with officers from RailCorp targeting rail vandalism on train carriages.

During the operation three men, a 25-year-old from Gosford, a 22-year-old from Niagara Park and a 22-year-old from North Gosford were arrested.

The men were each charged with malicious damage in company, disguised with intent and enter rail corridor. All three were granted conditional bail to attend Gosford Local Court on 28 July 2009.

Following the arrests police from Rail Vandalism Task Force raided a home on Pacific Highway, Niagara Park about 3pm Monday, 22 June, seizing a number of items allegedly linked to vandalism, including spray cans.

As a result of investigations, about 11.30am Tuesday 30 June, police raided a second home at Hill Street, North Gosford.

During the raid, police seized items allegedly linked to rail vandalism including graffiti illustrations, spray cans and a digital camera.

Police and Railcorp are continuing investigations into the vandalism of rail property around the State and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“

Clean up own mess” – NSW Premier

NSW Premier Nathan Rees said the NSW Government will introduce tough new laws to force young graffiti offenders to clean up their mess.

Images: Cardiff RSL security camera of ‘opera’ tagger in action.

The new laws are part of a renewed push by the NSW Government to tackle graffiti.

It is time they got the message – if you make a mess you have to clean it up,” Mr Rees said.

Frankly the community has had enough, I’ve had enough.”

The NSW Government will amend the Young Offenders Regulation to mandate outcomes for graffiti offenders.

Youth justice conferences will then be requiring vandals to agree to either:

• Clean up graffiti or perform other available community service work;
• Pay compensation to their victim; or
• Participate in training or education programs.

The community is fed up and I’m determined to force young graffiti vandals to make amends for the damage they cause,” Mr Rees said.

As well as the crackdown on young offenders, the NSW Government’s plan to target graffiti includes:

• An overhaul of prevention and clean-up measures;
• Working with local councils to come up with new ways of tackling the problem;
• An instruction from the Police Commissioner to all Local Area Commands to target graffiti and vandalism;
• A blitz by the Office of Fair Trading to ensure retailers are complying with new laws on the sale of spray cans.

I want vandals to be held responsible for their destructive behaviour, “Mr Rees said.

If the young offender does not comply with these directives then they will face the full force of the law and may spend time in juvenile detention.

Just three months ago the NSW Government toughened laws against graffiti vandalism and possession of graffiti implements.

If people tell me these laws do not go far enough – we will take them even further.”

Currently around 400 referrals are made each year to Youth Justice Conferences for young offenders on graffiti or malicious damage charges.  

Some 59 per cent of the outcomes of these conferences involve the young offender doing community service work which may include graffiti clean up.  

These new mandated outcomes will help ensure more offenders perform graffiti clean up work.

Juvenile offenders subject to community service orders are already being forced to perform graffiti clean up work, more than 64,000 hours of graffiti clean-up work has been completed since the program commenced some eight years ago.”

Mr Rees said the NSW Government would be working on further measures to combat graffiti and vandalism.

I want a tougher approach to this problem,” Mr Rees said.

There is no magic wand, but we need to work in partnership with the community, local government and parents to drive down the incidence of graffiti and vandalism.”

Ken Marslew from the Enough is Enough anti-violence movement endorsed the reforms.

Youth Justice Conferencing is very successful in forcing young offenders to confront their victims and face up to their behaviour”, said Mr Marslew.

But we need to make sure we’re getting the right outcomes so the punishment fits the crime.”

Four arrested over graffiti attacks: Cars, homes, street signs and businesses damaged at Campbelltown

Four men were arrested for graffiti attacks alleged to have targeted numerous residences and businesses in Sydney’s south-west.

About 1am today (7 June) Campbelltown police, as part of Operation Graffiti, were called to Sturt Street after reports of four males damaging street signs.

Police arrested a 17-year-old youth and three 19-year-olds who were taken to Camden Police Station and each were charged with two counts of malicious damage.

Cars, homes and signs along Sturt, Colonial, George and Hume Streets, as well as the Waminda Avenue Shops, were damaged by spray paint, costing thousands of dollars in cleanup.

Those in the local community who wake this morning to discover properties freshly damaged by graffiti to contact Campbelltown Police Station on (02) 4620-1199.

Two arrested for damaging War Memorial at Dapto

A man and a juvenile were charged after allegedly damaging a war memorial with graffiti at Dapto 3 June).

Police from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command went to Dapto Railway Station about 3:30pm after reports that two males had damaged the memorial.

Police reported a number of ‘tags’ on the granite walls of the memorial and damage to the toilets at Dapto Railway Station.

Police searched the males and allegedly located spray cans on them. Both were arrested and taken to Port Kembla Police Station.

An 18-year-old Unanderra man was charged with a number of offences including damage or impair the Memorial Building or dedicated area, two counts of malicious damage, possess thing intended for use in damaging property and not pay train fare and hold valid ticket.

A 13-year-old Cringila youth was dealt with via the Young Offenders Act and will face a youth conference regarding the same offences.

Down with Graffiti on Buses

NSW Transport Minister David Campbell today said the number of graffiti incidents on State Transit buses had dropped by 25 per cent from the last financial year.

Mr Campbell said the NSW Government had taken a number of steps to combat graffiti on the State Transit fleet in Sydney and Newcastle and figures showed that they were working.

“Any form of graffiti or vandalism on our buses is just not on and State Transit has been working closely with the NSW Police and schools to reduce the number of incidents of graffiti on buses,” Mr Campbell said.

“Our strategy of early detection and rapid removal of graffiti has proven to be an extremely effective way of reducing the impact of vandalism on buses and property and has also meant that services themselves are not disrupted by graffiti incidents.

“Over recent years, the installation of digital CCTV systems on all buses has helped deter and identify repeat offenders who deface the interior of buses.

“These initiatives have been successful in driving down graffiti on our buses, with the number of reported incidents dropping from 194 in 06/07 to 145 in 07/08.”

Mr Campbell said other initiatives to combat graffiti and make it easier to remove include:

• • Anti-graffiti cloth covering all seats;
• • Replaceable film on windows to prevent permanent damage from etching;
• • Operation Bus Stop, a joint initiative between the NSW Police and State Transit, whereby uniformed Police randomly patrol buses for anti-social behaviour;
• • Bus drivers checking buses at the conclusion of every shift to ensure the rapid detection and removal of graffiti;
• • Graffiti ‘signatures’ or ‘tags’ being routinely photographed and forwarded to Police; and
• • Engaging School Principals when major instances of graffiti are found on school services.

“Keeping public transport clean, safe and free of graffiti is a major priority for the Government,” Mr Campbell said.

“Earlier this year, the NSW Government introduced new laws to ban marker pens or etching implements for the purpose of committing vandalism to property. This type of vandalism carries a fine of up to $2,200 or six months jail.

“Anyone who notices this type of malicious damage to buses is encouraged to contact Transport Info on 131 500 and provide a bus number and time.

“We have pride in our State Transit fleet, as do the majority of responsible passengers. The small minority who don’t must learn the same respect or face the penalties.”

Graffiti and anti-social behaviour is targeted in ‘Operation Lorn’ in western Sydney suburbs of St Marys and Penrith.

Graffiti vandals were special focus in a major police crack down on graffiti and anti-social behaviour in Sydney’s west over two nights.

Operation Lorn launched by police after spate of anti-social and criminal behaviour, including graffiti.  Police tactics favoured shaming juvenile offenders – in front of parents – for their actions and made to clean away their graffiti.

The operation involved police from General Duties, Highway Patrol, Police Pushbikes, Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS), Polair, Mounted Unit, Dog Squad, School Liaison Officers and plain clothes police. Officers from the Rail Vandalism Task Force and Commuter Crime Unit were also assisted by RailCorp Security.

Graffiti was only one of many more serious offensive or criminal activities. The operation also targeted gang activity in the area through proactive and high visibility policing, which aimed to reduce the incidence of crime and improve public safety.

As a result of the two-day operation, 31 arrests were made while 136 juveniles were searched near graffiti hot spots and 64 of them moved on.

Inspector Kevin Dodds from St Marys Local Area Command said the operation was a success and police in the region will continue to target anti-social behaviour.

We won’t take a backward step. Police will maintain a strong presence to prevent anti-social behaviour and graffiti vandalism.”

Parents of juveniles caught spray painting a building at a St Clair sportsground were confronted and supported police action to have their children clean the graffiti away.

We found it surprising when we confronted the parents, some weren’t even aware their children were involved in such criminal activity,” Insp Dodds said.

We will continue to work with parents in averting juveniles from criminal and anti-social behaviour through our Youth Liaison Officers and School Liaison Officers.”

Nine juveniles allegedly attached to “The St Clair Crew” were issued warnings for graffiti, as were two juveniles allegedly part of a street gang called “Bombin’ Local Carriages.”

WORLD CHAMPS OF SURFING ON SHOW

ALL 16 World Champions of Surfing will return to Merewether, NSW, Australia, to celebrate Newcastle Surfest 2009.

From Mark Richards to Sunny Garcia, Mick Fanning to Kelly Slater, distinctive portraits of the world’s most influential surfing professionals will be on show at a unique exhibition of SURF ART running in conjunction with this year’s Surfest.

Newcastle artist Daniel Joyce’s series of illustrations of surfing’s greatest from 1976 to 2009 will be featured as part of his first solo exhibition, Firewater.

The four-day art display opens on Wednesday, March 18, at The Aqua Cellar, opposite the venue for Surfest 2009, Merewether Beach.

The talented young illustrator and airbrush painter began his caricature catalogue of surfing’s greatest in 2000, beginning with the Novocastrian legend “MR” and his 1970s contemporaries Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew and Shaun Tomson.

Inspired by the pioneering trio’s recent starring role in the acclaimed surf film Bustin’ Down The Door, Daniel will display his complete World Champs Series for the first time.

A keen surfer himself, Newcastle born and bred Daniel’s Firewater exhibition will feature an eclectic mix of more than 30 other paintings, illustrations and prints, including airbrushed surfboards, stunning surf-scapes on canvas and sketches of familiar Newcastle beach scenes and surf breaks viewed from in and out of the water.

Daniel has also created especially for the exhibition an evocative tribute to two World Champions of Women’s Surfing, Stephanie Gilmore (the 2007-08 title holder) and her friend, mentor and 1964 champion (and Australia’s first women’s world champ) Phyllis O’Donell.

Caves Beach-based Daniel, whose works have been published in the popular surfing magazines Tracks and Waves, has donated artworks to Surfest Ball charity auctions for the past eight years, in that time raising more than $15,000 for SIDS research.

This year, touched by the recent Victorian bushfire tragedy, Daniel will hold a Silent Art Auction for two of his displayed works, with proceeds to be donated to the Australian Red Cross.

As I worked on my art for this show I kept hearing the news from the Victorian bushfires and all those stories of heartbreak and heroism,” Daniel said.

It made me want to do something positive with my art which for me is all about capturing the environment that I love, the surf.”

Firewater, a surf art exhibition to coincide with Surfest 2009, runs from Thursday March 19 to Sunday March 22 at The Aqua Cellar, downstairs at Merewether’s Beach Hotel (Frederick Street front entrance).

Gallery hours:

11am to 5pm.

Opening night:

Wednesday March 18, from 6pm.

Media Release from Dan Joyce – March 13, 2009
Web: www.danieljoycedesign.com

Photography by Charlene Weisler at the Kevin Barry Gallery in Staten Island NYC showcased in a solo show from April 16 – June 11, 2009.

I am drawn to the urban landscape, especially area of urban decay" says artist Charlene Weisler. I want to capture a slice of New York City that will soon no longer exist."

Weisler’s Urban Montage series of street art-inspired photographs  features her most recent portfolio of work with images taken in Manhattan and Brooklyn in 2007 and 2008. With a solo exhibition in Japan this past summer, Weisler’s work has recently been profiled in the New York Sun and in several magazines.

Her current Urban Montage body of work uses peeling, eroding and weathered street art as a template for photographic collage.

I don’t photograph acts of graffiti per se. I am drawn to the decay and chaos and how that becomes part of the art," she said.

As the photographer, Ms. Weisler searches through the vast urban territory looking for elements that can become independent images.

There’s a secretive nature to my photographs," Ms. Weisler said. "I am capturing forms you may not notice when walking by a wall covered with graffiti. And the landscape changes quickly. Many of my photographs are of images that no longer exist."

Her portfolio is located at www.CharleneWeisler.com