Police Minister Yasmin Catley has told the Western Plains App she doesn't believe a parliamentary inquiry into rural crime is necessary to understand that there is a problem. 

The Government's decision not to hold a rural crime inquiry has been widely attacked. 

The Country Mayors Association's Chairman Jamie Chaffey said, "It is insulting for our NSW leaders to try to shut down this call that has come on behalf of millions of NSW residents for a Parliamentary Inquiry into crime, law and order in regional NSW. You cannot really 'know' the depth of the issues unless you live in regional NSW."

Mr Chaffey said statistics showed residents of rural, regional, and remote New South Wales were more likely to be sexually assaulted, more likely to have their cars stolen, more likely to have their homes broken into, and more likely to be impacted by domestic violence. When these crimes did occur, the Police response was delayed due to the resources available.  

Last week, Narromine mayor Craig Davies told the Western Plains App he thought the Government was "embarrassed" by the possibility of a rural parliamentary inquiry exposing the extent of rural crime. 

Bourke Police Station. Image: Wikipedia. 

But Ms Catley, who has just returned from a trip to Bourke, Enngonia, Lightning Ridge, Goodooga, Brewarrina and Wanaaring, told the Western Plains App, "I don't believe we need a parliamentary inquiry for politicians to tell us there's a problem". 

"Everyone has a role to play in addressing crime – government, non-government, and communities," she argued. 

"We know there's a problem, and police are doing everything they can to start addressing this". 

Ms Catley said that during her Western Plains tour she met with local police about crime issues. She also met with a variety of groups including the Bourke Tribal Council, Maranguka, Justreinvest and PCYC. 

"Where there's a need, police will respond. We know police can surge resources; officers are highly mobile and can respond to incidents right across their local district". 

Gilgandra Shire Council joins push for rural crime inquiry 

Gilgandra Shire Council Mayor Doug Patten. Image: Supplied

Ms Catley's response appears unlikely to satisfy her critics in the Western Plains. 

Gilgandra Shire Council now joins Walgett, Bourke, and Narromine Shire councils to support a rural crime inquiry. 

The council is calling on "All members of the NSW Parliament to commit to bipartisan support to establish a Parliamentary Inquiry into and report on the rate of crime in all categories reported on by the Bureau of Crime Statistical and Research (BOCSAR) in Regional, Rural, and Remote New South Wales, specifically focusing on the inequity between Metro and Regional Local Government areas." 

It also wants an increase in front-line police numbers in "Regional, Rural and Remote regions most in need" and for "seven non-24 hour police stations, all located in Regional, Rural, and Remote Local Government areas."