Dogs on patrol sniffing out graffiti vandals proves a valuable tool to shield PT infrastructure
A new strategy used to combat graffiti at train stations could be used at bus stations if positive results continue.
German Shepherds are helping sniff out graffiti vandals on the Sydney Trains network and with damage also costing bus operators, the rail initiative could potentially be expanded to help protect bus and light rail infrastructure.
“These seven German Shepherds are an integral part of the blitzes that target hot spots attacked by vandals,” New South Wales minister for transport and infrastructure Andrew Constance says.
“Their involvement has led to two arrests for graffiti-related offences at Granville and Sydenham stations, and they’ve sniffed out more than 1200 graffiti cans.”
Graffiti incidents dropped from an average of 27 per week to only four per week at some of the targeted locations, in results announced this week.
Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins says the canines are part of an ongoing anti-vandalism strategy targeting graffiti across the network to provide safer and cleaner services.
“Sydney Trains customers are clear about how much they hate seeing graffiti on trains, stations and in the rail corridor,” he says.
“We spend more than $30 million a year removing graffiti and fixing the damage it causes.”
New motion-activated cameras technology has also been installed to catch vandals in the act, rather than cleaning up after them and leaving authorities unable to prosecute offenders.