The New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) exhibit has taken line honours at the 2018 Royal Easter Show, winning the NSW Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) ‘Best in Show’ for their display highlighting rural crime and policing throughout NSW, NSW Police say.
"The NSW Police Force presence here at the Royal Easter Show has always been popular", Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside, State Rural Crime Coordinator said.
"Being able to put a focus on rural crime among so many people here at RAS’s pinnacle event is critical to the work of Rural Crime Investigators (Detectives) and really gives police the opportunity to tell regional NSW that rural crime is absolutely a key focus for Commissioner Mick Fuller and NSW Police Force."
While rural crime conjures images of wiley cattle rustlers and sheep duffers, the truth is far more devastating to Australia’s agricultural success, prosperity and way of life on the land. Biosecurity threats, illegal trespass and illegal hunting on farmland resulting in the unlawful death and injury of farm animals and wildlife, theft of large and small machinery, property theft, firearm offences; and of course, stock theft are some of the areas Rural Crime Investigators cover.
"Approximately 39 per cent of the value of NSW exports is derived from agricultural, fisheries and other natural resources primarily sourced from regional NSW. Each year, the impact of rural crime costs the NSW economy millions through lost productivity and loss of livelihood to those who work hard to keep agri business prosperous – our farmers," Det Insp Whiteside said.
Upwards of 800,000 visitors will pass through the Show over the coming week. The NSWPF presence at the Show provides the opportunity for police to meet some of those visitors in the open and welcoming space of the police exhibit. It also means the community can discuss a whole range of issues with police, including crime and crime prevention, police recruitment, community safety concerns, road safety, and services offered by the PCYC (Police Citizens Youth Club).
"It also provides police with a great opportunity to share some great messages and free police merchandise with the community; more importantly, spend some time talking with people in a friendly and non-threatening environment," Det Insp Whiteside said
The NSWPF exhibit can be found in the Home and Lifestyle Pavilion, immediately adjacent to the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome and is open from 9:30am until 8:30pm during the Show. Visitors can collect an impressive assortment of free #CopsAreTops merchandise, have their photograph taken at the police photo booth wearing a diverse range of specialist police uniforms, watch police in action on the huge ‘mega screen video wall’, get a selfie on a police motorbike, collect a copy of ‘Baarney The Sheep’ Junior Rural Crime Investigators workbook and, importantly, meet the men and women from the police frontline who protect NSW communities 24/7.
