Graffiti
If you see someone defacing property with graffiti, please call the police on 000.
To report graffiti use our online form.
Public spaces
It’s the responsibility of Council to remove graffiti from Council-owned properties and assets.
This includes buildings, footpaths, bike lanes, public bathrooms, playgrounds and play equipment, bus shelters, Council signage and street furniture such as benches.
Private property
Graffiti on private property is the responsibility of the property owner.
To report graffiti in progress call 000.
For non-emergencies, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or report online at Police Assistance Line and Online Reporting.
Report graffiti on other authority’s assets
If you notice graffiti on other buildings or assets, please contact the relevant authority from the list below.
| Authority |
Contact details |
Area of repsonsibility |
| Australia Post |
13 76 78 |
Green storage units on nature strips |
| Australia Post |
13 76 78 |
Red/yellow letter boxes |
| Council |
5471 1700 |
Council property |
| Crime stoppers |
1800 333 000 |
If you suspect someone of vandalism |
| Public Transport Victoria / VLine |
1800 800 007 or online
|
Trains and train stations including VLine services,
bus stops, railway bridges and overpasses |
| Telstra |
1800 011 433 or by email
|
Telephone boxes, stations and poles |
| Powercor |
13 22 03 or Contact us |
Power poles and street lights |
| VicRoads |
13 11 70 |
VicRoads roads, traffic signals poles and traffic lights |
| Victoria Police |
131 444 |
If you see the act of graffiti has occurred, no one present |
| Victoria Police |
000 |
If you see someone in the act of graffiti, offender present |
| NBN |
1800 687 626 |
NBN Cabinets |
How to manage graffiti
Helpful ways to manage graffiti are to:
- Prevent: try to keep your property tidy, clean and rubbish-free
- Report: you can report graffiti on your property to Victoria Police so they can add to their database
- Remove: aim to remove graffiti from your property within 48 hours. By removing it quickly, it’s less likely to reoccur
What is Council doing?
Council has taken the following steps to continue prevention and management of graffiti:
- We’ve increased cleaning of graffiti on Council assets and, when necessary, have engaged specialised contractors to support its removal.
- We’ve written to residential and commercial property owners where graffiti is present to inform them of their responsibility to remove it as per Council’s law. Where a property owner requires assistance with this, we’ve facilitated connecting them with community volunteers who have expressed an interest in helping remove graffiti.
- We have held discussions with various state government agencies including VicRoads, VLine and PTV to highlight the importance of prompt removal of graffiti from their assets.
- We’re assessing the opportunity for establishing sites for community art under our Public Arts policy.