19 September, 2023

Gunnedah Shire Council and NSW Police are working together to address rising crime in the Gunnedah Shire.

Gunnedah Shire Council met this week with police representatives in Gunnedah.

“Council has been advocating the need for additional policing measures for some time, most recently in discussions with the NSW Police Ministers office last week in Sydney,” Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said.

“To have senior representatives from both the Western Region and the Oxley Police District, as well as our hardworking local police, here this week discussing the community’s concerns, current actions and the way forward is very encouraging.

“As a community, we have a very strong part to play in supporting our police. As a community leader, Council has urged ongoing vigilance from our community. The best way we can support our local police is to report all incidents and suspicious behaviour.

“If you have CCTV, we encourage you to consider registering it through with the NSW Police Force CCTV Register available on www.police.nsw.gov.au”

Officer in Charge of Gunnedah Police Station, Inspector Michael Wurth, said police were aware of, and were taking action to address crime in Gunnedah.

“Oxley Police District, along with resources from the greater Western Police Region and Sydney, have been deployed to Gunnedah to assist with investigations into the ongoing property crime that has also involved incidents where the alleged offenders are reported to have been armed with knives,” Inspector Wurth said.

“In fact, additional resources have been deployed now for some weeks under the auspices of Operation Mongoose and will continue to be deployed as long as is required. Resources have and will continue to include specialist police along with plainclothes officers in unmarked police vehicles who will be working anytime of the day and night.

“Police are very aware of the angst and fear in the general community and wish to reiterate the ongoing commitment to putting the alleged offenders before the Courts. To that end, police need the assistance of the community to provide timely information to Crimestoppers (1800 333 000), PoliceLink (131444) or if the incident is urgent, ring Triple 000. The information a member of the community holds may be the piece police are after.

“Despite the angst, police caution against vigilantism. It may result in good people getting into trouble or worse, being injured. It also has the potential to deflect those additional resources away from performing the duties they were deployed to carry out,” he said.

“If you see something, report it.”

Caption: Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree, Western Region Commander, Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey, Superintendent Bruce Grassick, District Commander, Oxley Police District, Deputy Mayor Rob Hooke, and Inspector Mick Wurth, Officer in Charge, Gunnedah Police Station.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.