Vandalism, the wilful damage of someone else’s property, is a senseless crime. There appears to be no gain in it for the vandal, and the results can be costly and heartbreaking for the owners of destroyed or damaged property.

Vandalism, however, is a social problem with – like all problems – a cause. Treating vandalism by simply punishing the perpetrators – if they can be identified – is like treating the symptoms of a disease without looking for its cause. The symptoms might go away for a while, but if the underlying disease remains, it’s still going to cause trouble down the track, with possibly more serious symptoms.

Like all antisocial behaviours, the causes of vandalism can be complex. It can be a result of boredom, a cry for attention, an expression of dissatisfaction with a current situation, a protest against authority. While justice is required, it needs to be within the context of social justice, not just the law, if the problem is to be stopped and not simply hidden until next time.

Back in 1987, when the City of Brisbane and the Queensland government were in full preparation for Expo ‘88, a solid construction fence was erected around the entire Expo site. Rather than have an ugly construction fence, the organisers decided to have it decorated. With the assistance of the police, schools, social workers and juvenile justice workers, a group of the city’s most renowned graffiti artists – vandals, in other words – were rounded up. It wasn’t hard. They’d left their tags all over buses, trains and other public infrastructure all over town.

The result was several kilometres of fairly impressive street art that the event organisers kept intact for the duration of the six-month Expo. And the artists/vandals? Not a single one re-offended. Many got jobs at Expo or worked at the event as volunteers.

Public recognition that they were worthy members of society assisted a very troubled and destructive group of (mostly, but not exclusively) boys.

The sort of vandalism that has been surfacing around our town in recent weeks is not the problem. It is a symptom of a problem that, if it can be identified and addressed, will stop the vandalism before it gets out of hand. To castigate and marginalise the perpetrators will simply make it worse.