A $26.2 million initiative to tackle regional crime launched last week by the NSW Government that aims to address the increased rate of offending and community safety doesn’t go far enough claims Clarence MP Richie Williamson, who has called for locals to share experiences of crime on a new website.

Premier Chris Minns announced the reforms and initiatives, designed to support community safety and wellbeing, especially in regional areas, with a focus on strengthening early intervention and prevention programs for youths through three key elements: Legislative reform, broader regional crime prevention initiatives, and a targeted response to address crime in Moree.

The legislative reform will strengthen bail laws, meaning police, magistrates, or judges considering bail will need a high degree of confidence that offenders between the ages of 14 and 18 won’t commit any further offences if bail is granted.

The reforms will see the introduction of a new offence for “posting and boasting” on social media, with an additional penalty of two years jail for people who commit vehicle theft or break-and-enter offences and share their involvement online.

A new range of statewide regional crime prevention initiatives including expanding Youth Action Meetings in nine Police Districts will be introduced, the expansion of the Safe Aboriginal Youth Patrol Program to five Closing the Gap priority locations designed to reduce the risk of young aboriginal people being involved in crime, and a roll out of $7.5 million in Justice Reinvestment grants from June 2024.

The final key element of the reforms is a $13.4 million targeted response in Moree to address crime, support local youth and improve community safety.

Premier Minns said while they acknowledge there is no easy solution, the reforms are designed to intervene, help prevent crime and give young people a chance at life.

“We will not leave regional communities behind, and we will ensure regional communities are safe and appealing places to work, live and raise a family,” he said.

“We need to work across government – police, schools, mental health – and importantly in partnership with community leaders, Aboriginal organisations and NGOs.”

But Member for Clarence Richie Williamson says people power is needed to encourage the NSW Government to take real action on the regional crime crisis.

“Richmond and Clarence Valley police officers do a great job day in day out, not least because the previous Liberal and Nationals Government funded a massive boost in numbers,” he said.

“However, even the Sydney Labor Government acknowledges that crime is now higher in regional NSW than in Sydney.”

Mr Williamson encouraged Clarence and Richmond Valley locals to share their experiences of crime on a new website www.regionalcrime.com.au to put pressure on the government to take real action.

“This will help me and other regional MPs to be successful in our efforts to convince the Government to take real action,” he said.

“I acknowledge the Government announced an anti-crime pilot program for Moree to help find solutions in that regional town, but that is not much use if you live in the Richmond or Clarence valleys or other regional communities.

“It also doesn’t take away the need for a Parliamentary Inquiry to look at the core issues of the problems and give our police the backing and resources they need to address the issue.

“We need real solutions to a real and growing problem and the Government needs to respond to and provide support to each regional town’s individual needs.

“Residents should also report all crime to the police, because these statistics are used when decisions are made about officer allocations.”

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 20 March 2024.