A Warren Police Officer spoke to the Western Plains App about the fulfillment she finds from her job as NSW Police try to recruit more members - particularly in rural areas. 

The Police Association of NSW says the state staring down the barrel of a severe police shortage. While Ian Leavers, from the Police Federation of Australia has described staffing levels as at “a crisis situation”. 

A suite of recently-introduced incentives designed to draw police to the bush will soon come into play but what happens once officers arrive in small towns is just as important.

For Sergeant Rebecca Byles life in Warren is good. 

Rebecca grew up in suburban Sydney; living and working in the Eastern Beaches of Sydney for over 13 years. She moved to Warren in 2021. 

“After living in the city for 13 years I thought it might be hard to adjust to country living; however, Warren is a great little town, everyone is friendly and I love feeling like I am part of such a wonderful little community” she told the Western Plains App.  

“Walking down the street off duty everyone waves and stops for a chat, things like that never happened in the city so its great to live in such a friendly town”. 

Getting police officers into regional areas is often difficult task so much so that the last NSW State Government created the Regional Incentive Scheme. 

Police relocating towork in some of the state’s more remote communities will be backed with cash payments of up to $36,000 and more career development opportunities under the scheme which begins from July 1. 

Image: NSW Police. 

The new incentives, shaped by officer feedback, include: 

• Increased payments to up to $36,000 over five years for officers who move to select regional location 
• Housing provided by NSW Police at specific locations at a rate of 3 per cent of an officer’s salary per annum – well below the rental market rate 
• Reduced mandatory tenure periods at identified locations to allow greater mobility opportunities for officers 
• Additional funding to support officers in remote and special remote areas to travel and build their capabilities and career 

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the new scheme would provide a great opportunity for officers looking to make a change and diversify their skills to relocate to a regional position. 

“Policing in regional NSW brings a whole new set of skills to learn, and the rewards gained from working closely with small and unique communities is an experience you just can’t get in the big cities,” Commissioner Webb said. 

“The enhanced regional incentives package is another step forward by the NSW Police Force in creating a flexible and accommodating workplace, delivering world class policing across the entire state.” 

Police Association President Kevin Morton welcomed the move. 

“For too long, police stations in remote areas have struggled to attract police officers. These improved incentives will go a long way to attract officers to serve these rural communities,” Mr Morton said. 

Sargeant Byles has said that she didn’t need incentive to move to a small town. She told the Western Plains App that from a very early age she wanted she she helped people. 

“When I was about 12-years-old I remember we had a police car pull up next to us at a set of traffic lights and my nan said to me, “You should become a police officer when you’re older, you will be able to help a lot of people.” From that moment on I knew that’s what I wanted to do and it never changed”. 

She said that policing life in Warren has brought its challenges. 



“There have been a lot of best moments and a lot of difficult moments being a police officer. I find dealing with families when they have lost someone in tragic circumstances as probably the most difficult – nothing you can say or do can change the situation for them so I find I just have to be compassionate and hope I can make a very difficult situation even the tiniest bit easier”.  

“Seeing people happy as a result of your work and reuniting people would definitely be the best, knowing that the work you do has made someone happy is so rewarding and the reasons why I joined the NSW Police Force” she said.