NSW Police Minister says progress is happening on solving Youth Crime, citing this week's funding announcements for Moree, Tamworth and Kempsey.

Minister Yasmin Catley has told Parliament that her meetings with mayors and last week on the ground in the Walgett, Coonabarabran and Lightning Ridge areas gave her a first-hand look at the situation facing those regions.

Her comments this week add to anticipation of further announcements that should include western plains communities like Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble and Walgett.

During Parliamentary Question Time on Tuesday November 11 she said, "We know we can’t arrest our way out of this deep social malaise."

"Everyone I spoke to said the same thing. That our police are doing an excellent job, but as we know - they can’t do it alone.  

"The other point of near universal agreement was that we need place-based solutions - targeted, diversionary programs that target the root drivers of offending and help break the cycle."

The Minister referred to a shift towards "community-driven prevention and diversion programs that work for specific communities – not a 'one-size-fits-all' approach."

She reminded fellow MPs that official data shows that youth crime in regional NSW has dropped more than 12 per cent in the past two years. 

‘’And in some areas, like Dubbo, Bourke and Broken Hill, the decline is even sharper," Minister Catley said.

"But we know numbers are little comfort to victims of crime.

"We know there is more to do. But our police are up for it. Regional communities are up for it. And the Government is up for it - we're in this for the long haul. ‘’

Representatives from Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble and Walgett shires met with Police Commissioner Mal Lanyard. [IMAGE: Roy Butler MP]

Commenting on the funding announced this week for Tamworth, Kempsey and Moree, Country Mayors Chairman Rick Firman says money invested in the battle to arrest youth crime is a good beginning but more needs to be done.

He says it is a major frustration in many rural, remote and regional communities, particularly where the service access inequities compared to Sydney communities is evident.

“The long-running NSW Government Inquiry into ‘Community safety in regional and rural communities’ commenced in March 2024 and received 198 submissions.

“The NSW Government Response to the Interim Report: ‘Addressing the drivers of youth crime through early intervention’ is due 29 November 2025,” Mayor Firman said.

“Given the extent to which crime rates in some regional areas exceed those of metropolitan Sydney, we hope the youth program funding from the Minns Government will be a small step on a long and challenging road. ''

He has encouraged the NSW Government to ensure a broad focus on rural, remote and regional crime issues.

“It should also be noted that survey results and research released by the University of New England last month showed that 90 percent of farmers have been victims of crime, including stock theft but researchers have also found that only 30 percent of farm-crime incidents are reported.

"Domestic violence is another scourge in our communities for which smaller centres lack resources, like emergency accommodation for those who are escaping a violent home,” he said.

Coonamble Mayor Dan Keady told his councillors today "We have a follow up meeting with the Premier, the Secretary of the Premier's Department and the Police Commissioner tomorrow 13 November.

"This meeting will effectively cover youth crime, after-hours activities, youth services models and possible review of youth service delivery.

"So we are expecting some sort of announcement tomorrow in regard to that - so watch this space."