The Mid North Coast Police District today launched a new program to target drug fuelled crime in the area.
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A large number of locals gathered for the launch of the ‘Not our Way’ program which focuses on the impacts associated with the use of drugs on community members in relation to crime.
Inspector Stuart Campbell spoke of the increase in crime within the area, where in the past 12 months there have been 537 break and enters in the region, with an average of 22 per month.
“We have seen an increase in crime in recent weeks. We can see the concern in the community with the large attendance of locals here today,” he said.
“The number of break and enters in the area have gone up and these are fueled by drugs. We rely on the community to detect these people and work with us.”
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Superintendent Paul Fehon addressed the meeting and said more education is needed in the community in relation to drugs and also highlighted the aims of the new program.
“We’ve seen an increase in crime where heroin is a factor. For years we’ve been discussing the ice epidemic but heroin is a dangerous drug that is linked to crimes in the area,” Supt Fehon said.
“The program will involve going to schools in the area and educating locals about the effects these drugs have in a community.”
75 per cent of break and enters in the area over the past 12 months have been residential.
“Most of these break-ins, they are after small and quick items, money and car keys. Also a lot of break and enters from surrounding areas have links to Kempsey,” Supt Fehon said.
In response to the spike in crime in the area, Supt Fehon said there has been an increase in police presence.
“There has been an increase in the number of police patrolling at night so we can swiftly respond to crime,” he said.
“These crimes are driven by drugs and we have to work with the community, that’s why we have launched this program, to make our community safer and to work with the community to achieve this.”
“The crime within Kempsey extends to surrounding areas such as South West Rocks and Crescent Head and there has been concern from these communities. We will continue to focus on targeting crime in the area and the insidious drugs that are associated with these crimes,” Supt Fehon said.
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