Despite the smaller turn out at the local event Wagga Local Area Command Superintendent – Commander Bob Noble said there have been two great things to come out of the workshops.

“They (the workshops) have served to enhance our linkages with producers and support industries, with a forum to disseminate information about reducing your chance of becoming a victim of rural and related crime,” Mr Noble said.

“They have also been a great platform for broadcasting information about the new Rural Crime arrangements, our enhanced capacity to investigate rural crime and to introduce us and our staff to the victim and customer base that we are here to serve.”

According to Mr Noble the forum recently held in Young, while modestly attended, went well and featured presentations by a variety of NSW Police Force staff including the Hume Police District’s new Rural Crime Zone Coordinator Detective Sergeant Damian Nott.

“Damian is a vastly experienced officer with a social and professional background in rural and related settings,” Mr Noble said.

“This is the first time in NSW Police's history that a Detective Sergeant's position has been allocated to Rural Crime.

“Previously all positions were only at constable / senior constable level. Now we have three Det Sgts' positions as well as an Inspector / Coordinator position - another first for our organisation.”

Mr Noble said he would like to point out that among a variety of enhancements to the rural crime portfolio, the Cootamundra / Young area has been particularly well served, going from one Rural Crime Investigator (RCI) at Senior Constable level to three positions, including Mr Nott’s, working from Cootamundra police station servicing the Coota-Gundagai, and Hilltops Local Government Areas. 

“With the workshops now winding up, NSW Police Force will press on with rural crime reduction strategies as well as continuing to investigate reports of rural crime,” Mr Noble said.