More than 20 police workshops will be held across regional New South Wales this year to help farmers tackle rural crime.
Over $165,000 has been awarded to the NSW Farmers Association by the NSW Government, which will go towards the delivery of 26 Security Assessment Workshops during Rural Crime Week 2018.
During the first nine months of 2017 the cost of livestock theft to farmers was $2.328 million.
NSW Farmers policy adviser Isabella McDougall said rural crime has economic, social and personal impacts for people living in the country.
“As rural crime is costly and on the rise, preventing it is an integral step to building a long-term prosperous agricultural sector and vibrant regional community,” she said.
“Rural crime is often difficult to prosecute and so these workshops will help both police and farmers strengthen communication that will lead to being better equipped to gather and present proof of evidence.
“Participants will come away from each workshop with practical solutions to help them protect their property and livestock.”
While the full locations of the Security Assessment Workshops will be finalised in the coming weeks, Ms McDougall confirmed there will be several workshops in the Police Local Command Areas of Western and Central West NSW.
“The Security Assessment Workshops will help farmers assess the major security risks facing their business, property and family,” she said.
“This includes options to increase security infrastructure, practical solutions to assess risk, and ways to improve asset protection and surveillance to reduce trespass.
“The workshops will also build strong community engagement between farmers and police Rural Crime Investigators.”
The workshops will be facilitated by Rural Crime Investigators.
Rural crime has been a hot topic across the state recently. A legislation designed to provide a more comprehensive and effective response to rural crime, including stock theft, trespass and illegal hunting passed through NSW Parliament late in 2017.
The Rural Crime Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 followed a review into rural crime undertaken by former NSW Police Force Assistant Commissioner Steve Bradshaw.
The very first Rural Crime Prevention Team for the Western region was also announced during this period.
Ms McDougall said more information will be released in due course through the NSW Farmers website, the NSW Polices social media channels and regional media.
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Nyngan Observer
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