The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement of a new Inquiry into Community Safety in Regional and Rural Communities, and urges community members to have their say.

Late last month, the NSW Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Law and Safety launched a new inquiry to take a closer look at regional crime.

In particular, the inquiry will investigate the drivers of youth crime in the regions and explore actions the NSW Government can take to improve community safety.

It follows a report from the CMA showing that average rate of recorded crime across Rural and Regional NSW is considerably higher than in Sydney for most offences.

For instance the report showed that in 2022/23 the rate of break and enter-dwelling was 115% higher in Rural and Regional NSW compared with Greater Sydney.

In 2022/23 the rate of motor vehicle theft in Rural and Regional NSW was double the rate in Greater Sydney. Violent crimes were also much more prevalent in Rural and Regional NSW.

Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey is the Chairperson of the Country Mayors Association

CMA Chair and Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the statistics showed clearly there were disproportionate crime levels and fewer police resources in regional and rural New South Wales, and it was now up to community members to bring the full extent of the crisis to the attention of the State Government.

“It has been an enormous challenge to make this Inquiry a reality,” Mayor Chaffey said.

The CMA’s recent general meeting hosted top level speakers on regional crime at NSW Parliament House days after the announcement.

“Our meeting saw presentations from the NSW Minister for Police, the Shadow Minister for Police, the Deputy Police Commissioner and President-Elect of the NSW Police Association” Mayor Chaffey said.

“The inquiry that the NSW Government has announced is not everything we hoped for, but the Minns Government has listened and responded, which the CMA commends.

“As Shadow Police Minister the Hon. Paul Toole told our meeting, this inquiry must get to the front lines of the regional crime battle and not remain safely holed up in Sydney. We encourage regional Councils to send submissions to the Inquiry members, including Mr Toole, asking that the inquiry conduct a hearing in their town and hear from locals in person.”

Shadow Police Minister Paul Toole addressed the meeting in Sydney. IMAGE SUPPLIED

The meeting in Sydney included a presentation by Executive Director NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Jacki Fitzgerald.

CMA Deputy Chair and Temora Mayor Rick Firman AOM said the bureau’s data underpins the CMA’s recently updated Regional NSW Crime, Law and Order Report.

“The statistics and trends speak for themselves,” Mayor Firman said. “As Jacki Fitzgerald told our meeting, the data shows that regional NSW has far worse reported crime figures than Sydney.

“What we need is for policy makers and Government departments to get more than the numbers, to really understand what crime has done to people in our regions and what consequences or potential solutions are, when we do not feel safe in our own communities and our own homes.”

To find out more about the Inquiry or to make a submission click here.