The establishment of rural crime prevention teams is one of many new operational reforms the NSW Police Force is proposing to introduce to bolster and improve its response to rural crime across the state, NSW Police say.
Launching the 2017 Rural Crime Week campaign in Dubbo this morning tomorrow, Deputy Commissioner Regional Field Operations Gary Worboys said improvements are continually being made to ensure the NSW Police Force can respond to rural crime issues such as stock theft, trespass, and illegal hunting.
"Rural crime prevention teams are about providing support where it is most needed and introducing a better structure for our investigators to perform their duties," Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
"More specially-trained rural crime officers will be clustered in our regional centres to respond quickly and efficiently to rural crime as part of the re-engineering process and in response to the Bradshaw Review."
Proposed changes to legislation currently before the NSW Parliament will complement the work of officers and see tougher penalties for criminals.
"We are taking a number of steps to improve outcomes for victims of rural crime to ensure we can address the challenges of crime in rural and regional areas," Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
Minister for Police, Troy Grant, said the reforms are designed to give officers the legislative framework they need to solve rural crimes.
"These measures will ensure the courts have appropriate penalties available to hold offenders to account, and to deter would-be criminals from engaging in this hideous behaviour, which costs country communities and hard-working rural residents a fortune," Mr Grant said.
Western Region Commander and NSW Police Corporate Spokesperson for Rural Crime, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, said ongoing education and training is also part of the strengthened response.
"NSW Police is the only law enforcement agency in Australia to have a nationally-accredited course for Rural Crime Investigators (RCIs)," Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
"Just last week more than 20 RCIs completed a four-day course in Goulburn that gave them additional resources to work with the livestock, the land and their local community,"
Training for general duties police working in rural and regional locations is also being rolled out to give them basic skills for dealing with rural crime.
"The emphasis of the training is about giving our police working in rural and remote locations a greater understanding of the rural sector so they are able to take reports and assist victims," Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
"There is always more that can be done and we will continue to work closely other government agencies and stakeholders."
Anyone with information concerning rural crime in NSW should contact Crime Stoppers.
