Police visiting villages around the Hilltops district to speak to members of the community will continue after the first ‘pop up police day’ at Bribbaree last week was a success.
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The ‘pop up police’ initiative seeks to get law enforcement officers to communities that might not have a significant police presence so that people can talk and interact with force personnel.
Acting Commander for Hume Police District Superintendent Michael Rowan said Bribbaree locals received the initiative positively.
“Residents, parents and school children came out in numbers to talk with us, and we think the day was a success,” he said.
“As far as potential and scope from what I saw this would be something we continue to do on a regular basis throughout the Young footprint, including the villages.
“I spoke to many people who simply just wanted to talk to the police about a variety of issues that they would not otherwise have had the opportunity to do.
“By bringing the police to the people, we certainly had a good outcome for the police but also for the community, which is ultimately what we are trying to achieve.”
Superintendent Rowan said the day opened lines of communication between the police and community members.
“The day opened a dialogue with smaller communities, and their police and I think from that we will have a true opportunity to not only prevent crime, but with by building those relationships if crime is occurring we’ll be able to disrupt it,” he said.
Sergeant Michael Madgwick said ‘pop-up police’ aims to provide specialist resources to the members of communities who have little or no interaction with police.
“We send the Domestic Violence Officer, the Licensing Officer who deals with firearms, a Rural Crime Investigator as well as a local Police Officer who works in the area,” he said.
“We know people put off calling us, we know that people perceive we are too busy, we know some crimes go unreported to us.
“So, if you think you need to report something to us that you may have seen or been a victim of, we are providing our specialist resources to you to talk to. No matter is too big or too small. We will now be at villages around the district to interact, converse and be available to anyone who wants or needs to talk.”
Craig Thomson
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
