Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith and Liberal candidate for Kiama Gareth Ward discussed the graffiti policy with Shoalhaven Business Chamber president Chance Hanlon on Friday.

According to Mr Smith vandals were escaping punishment under the current system.

“Graffiti is not taken seriously enough and a lot of offenders don’t even go to court,” he said.

“Under our policy the Young Offenders Act won’t apply and there will be several options available to the magistrate.

“The first is to stop the offender from getting their licence, having their licence revoked or prevented from advancing.

“That will deter them and really hurt them because we all know young people like to be able to drive.”

Mr Smith listed community service as another option, which would involve vandals cleaning up their own graffiti.

According to Cr Ward Shoalhaven City Council spends more than $100,000 a year on graffiti and vandalism.

He said the policy, which took a different approach, would send a strong message to vandals.

“This type of restorative justice will make them realise the true impact graffiti has on the community,” he said.

Mr Hanlon said the Shoalhaven business community would back any action that took a stand against vandals.

“For businesses to thrive they need to have clean and tidy premises,” he said.

“Graffiti is ugly and it just makes places look run-down.”

Mr Hanlon, the owner of Hanlon Windows, has experienced vandalism first-hand.

“Since then I have put CCTV cameras in and haven’t had an incident since,” he said.

“I still have paint and a brush out the back just in case because I know how bad it makes a place look and I want to be prepared.”