The clean-up is no longer just about washing spray paint off a wall with companies now providing clients with crime audits and information about vandals.

Mark Worsey, from Graffiti Eaters, said there had been a jump in demand for the services of his company, one of the biggest graffiti removal firms in the country.

"We've had an increase in work in different markets that we've not been involved in before," he said.

The company was engaged by universities, local government, businesses and individuals to remove spray-painted tags and other forms of graffiti.

Kevin White from Graffiti Gone also said vandalism was on the rise.

"As a contractor, we believe rapid removal is the best solution," he said.

"Some organisations could be more proactive."

To help, Mr White's company can create graffiti management plans for clients, patrol areas at risk of malicious damage and provide crime audits with details about the behaviour of particular taggers.

Mr White also believes in preventing crime with good environmental design principles. "It's basically designing out illegal activity whether it be graffiti or youth criminal activity," he said.

Good design could involve creating alfresco dining areas, good lighting, good sight lines and making spaces multi-purpose.

"You create an environment where the risks are higher than the reward."

Mr White, a former youth worker, said legal graffiti walls were not helpful in the fight against malicious damage.

"I'm very supportive of young people and visual arts. But you can't have one side of the (graffiti) culture without the other side."

He said he supported youth services which provided alternative, sustainable opportunities for young people to break the cycle of criminal behaviour.

"I hate the term 'hoons'. These kids aren't hoons. Often these kids are on the wrong side of the tracks because they don't have a good mentor.

"They're not bad kids. Legal walls haven't given them anything to change their behaviour."