A new form of vandalism dubbed "scratchiti".

VIEWS from bus windows could be blocked by prison van-like grilles to stop a new form of vandalism dubbed "scratchiti".

The latest scourge facing State Transit is a form of graffiti that involves vandals using sharp objects such as rocks or broken computer discs to scratch words or pictures into windows.

The NSW Government is now considering copying authorities in Perth who have installed grilles in the back half of buses where vandals usually strike.

The popularity of scratchiti has risen due to more effective cleaning agents used to reduce traditional pen and spray-paint graffiti.

Sydney bus drivers told The Daily Telegraph the problem was rife across the network's fleet of more than 2000 buses, especially in the northwest and Port Botany regions.

State Transit Authority chief executive Peter Rowley admitted yesterday the problem had escalated in recent months.

"Graffiti vandalism is a society issue and window scratching has become a more recent form of this on buses," Mr Rowley said.

"A safety film is placed on State Transit bus windows for the primary purpose of protecting passengers from objects thrown at buses.

"This film does also have the secondary benefit of protecting windows from permanent damage from scratching and it can easily be replaced."

Mr Rowley said the Government had looked into the use of an internal mesh grille which would eradicate the problem.

"State Transit is always monitoring any new developments with regard to anti-graffiti technology," Mr Rowley said.

The internal grille "has not been ruled out" but in the short term the use of police, CCTV and the window film was "proving effective".

But bus drivers disagreed and said taxpayers were having to fork out to pay for the window films that were being destroyed, and also had to be replaced at a rapid rate.

"Go down to any bus interchange and have a look at the state of the vehicles, it's a disgrace," one driver said.

Another driver said Port Botany was "the worst area in Sydney" for the problem, with most buses in the area affected by scratchiti.

State Transit said it had an anti-graffiti program designed to combat "any form of vandalism", which was based on early detection and rapid removal of any graffiti where possible.

This included having police randomly board buses to check for anti-social behaviour.