''I want to keep communities safe.'' NSW Police Commissioner says

The NSW Police commissioner Mal Laynon on a visit to Dubbo on Wednesday (15 October) has told community he will pull out all stops to stifle crime in the region.

Against a backdrop of rising crime rates west of Dubbo he has told media he is focused on stopping the offending, especially among juveniles, and was alarmed over a recent incident where was a woman was assaulted at Walgett at the local swimming pool.

Walgett Mayor Jasen Ramien is still waiting on a response to his invitation to the NSW Premier to visit the town, calling the incident and other youth crime there ''unacceptable.''

The NSW Police Commissioner says nothing is off the table in preventing and stamping out youth and regional crime.

''Please know I am focused on ending youth crime in the area,'' he said.

''It's really important we step up our crime presence and we won't stop until we do, nothing is off the table in a suite of measures that are available .''

The latest releases from NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics have not painted a good picture for western plains communities - Walgett is 5.2 % above the state average, Brewarrina 6.8% and Bourke 8.0 % higher.

In Dubbo, Police say they have been having results from their focus on prevention and diversion tactics.

Superintendent Tim Chinn. [IMAGE WPA]

Orana Mid-Western Police District commander, Superintendent Tim Chinn, said the long and short-term strategies have concentrated on known at-risk areas and high-risk offenders.

“We’ve introduced multi-pronged initiatives comprising high-visibility patrols and proactive campaigns, with ongoing support to key youth diversionary programs, with my officers strongly supported by police attached to the Youth Command and the PCYC,” Supt Chinn said.

“As a consequence, Dubbo and surrounding areas have seen a decrease in the number of young people being charged and put before the courts.

“The figures show NSW Police court proceedings against young people are down 34% with a further reduction by 46% for break and enter/vehicle theft offences."

The statistics relate to trends between September 2023 to August 2025.

“We want the community to know that while we are strongly committed to enforcing the law, we are still supporting and encouraging diversionary programs to keep the majority of young people, who do the right thing out of harm’s way and out of the influence of crime.

“Under Operation Soteria, local police have identified and referred young offenders into programs such as YAMS (Youth Action Meetings) a multi-agency forum designed to help at risk young people from re-offending."

Other western plains towns, including Coonamble and Narromine, are still waiting on the same focus on preventing crime.