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The Voluntary Industry Strategy
Australian Retailers Association New South Wales
20 YORK STREET SYDNEY 2000 PH 9290 3766 FAX 9262 1464 The Voluntary Industry Strategy is intended to apply to all retailers merchandising and serving products that may be used for graffiti.
Retailers include, inter alia; art supply stores, stationery stores, paint and hardware stores, department stores, discount department stores, shoe shops, service stations and newsagents. It is suggested that when merchandising products that may be used for graffiti, retailers implement the recommendations of the Voluntary Industry Strategy in their retail outlets wherever it is commercially practicable to do so.
Recommendations:
1. Identify products within retail outlets which may be used for graffiti (ie., spray paint cans, wide felt tip pens) and avoid the display of such products in areas out of the sight of staff where they can be accessed by consumers.
2. Consider the display of empty spray paint cans ("dummy cans") and empty felt tip markers.
3. Where commercially viable either:
- physically secure products behind counters or in glass display cabinets; or
- remove self-service access to products, only providing them at consumer’s request; or
- locate products in a position visible from a service point; or
- maintain regular staff supervision of these products.
4. Request store security staff to focus attention on these products where there is evidence of theft. Serious consideration should be given to the prosecution of offenders.
5. Inform security and sales staff of the relevant laws and the potential use of these products for graffiti.
6. Display in the store, preferably adjacent to these products, a sign or poster (such as "Graffiti, and you pay")
which informs consumers of the penalties for unlawful possession or misuse of these products.
eg. WARNING:*
- A $2000 fine** or imprisonment for 6 months if you damage or deface premises or property
- A$1000 fine** or imprisonment for 3 months if you are caught in possession of spray paint, markers, etc., with the intent to deface or damage premises or property
- The court may make you do Community Service work instead of imposing a fine or sentence
- The Court may also order that you remove the graffiti and restore the appearance of the premises or property
** (Maximum fines may exceed these amounts.)
* (the relevant Act is the Summary Offences and Other Legislation (Graffiti) Act 1994.)
7. Ensure that all advertising of paint spray cans and felt tip markers is accompanied by a reminder about the penalties for unlawful possession or misuse of these products.
8. When serving a potential customer, a retailer should enquire as to the proposed use of the product. If on the basis of these enquiries, it appears that the likely use of the product is unlawful, the retailer may refuse to sell the product.
9. Retailers should cooperate with shopping centre managers and property owners to ensure that graffiti is removed as soon as possible, within 24 hours if possible.
"Part of the Graffiti Solution"
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