October’s tally of 171 malicious damage reports in the Albury local area command was the highest monthly rate in the past three years.

The same month last year recorded 129 reports, while October, 2007 saw 142 incidents reported to police.

There were 161 offences reported in November.

But senior police have attributed the rise to an increased rate of reporting by community members, rather than a surge in vandalism.

“Malicious damage reports are going up. But in saying that, that to me would reflect that more people are now coming forward to report the damage, particularly graffiti,” Supt Gary Commins said.

The graffiti issue was raised at the first meeting of the newly reformed Albury crime prevention committee earlier this month.

“One of the messages that comes through time and again is the need for co-operation by the general public with the police in reporting and identifying criminal activity,” member for Albury Greg Aplin said.

“I think (the committee) can get some strategies together which will assist in combating this scourge.

“We do have to take action, not only to report and clean up but also to identify the perpetrators.

“The quicker it can be removed, the better — the community feels better and the offenders don’t get the satisfaction of seeing their tags defacing buildings.”

Taskforce chairwoman and Albury Mayor Alice Glachan said the committee had also decided to examine the city’s reward policy in relation to vandalism.

“The council has a policy already that if there’s a successful conviction for malicious damage to council property then we will pay a reward to a certain amount,” she said.

“It’s been questioned should we include private property? The youth member raised the question of ‘what about not-for-profit organisations and community groups?’.

“Well clearly the policy doesn’t (allow for that) at the moment so we, as a group, have agreed that we will be looking at that.”

Cr Glachan said the committee would make a recommendation to the council on its findings.