New regional crime campaign launched to combat high crime rate

The goal is to address awareness of regional crimes, prevention measures and to increase reporting to Crime Stoppers and the police.

The campaign will provide information on how regional communities can deter or prevent crime in their area while encouraging everyone to report crime.

The message to the NSW community is: "Any information on any crime anytime."

The Crime Stoppers contact centre operates 24/7, 365 days a year and all information captured is in complete confidence.

According to new research by the Centre for Rural Criminology, University of New England, in NSW, more than 80 per cent of farmers have reported being a victim of crime.

Between 2015 and 2020, there has been a conservative estimated value of $22.5m worth of sheep and cattle reported stolen within NSW.

Even more worrying is the high levels of repeat victimisation, with more than 76 per cent of farmers being a victim of crime on more than two occasions, and more than 23 per cent experiencing crime more than seven times.

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Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, is urging regional residents to report any piece of information no matter how small to Crime Stoppers and the NSW Police.

"It's disheartening to hear more than 80 per cent of our farmers have reported being victims of criminal activity," he said.

"Our farmers have had a shocking few years with drought, bushfires, COVID-19 and floods - adding victim-of-crime to the mix is reprehensible.

"We're calling on the NSW community to report any information on any crime anytime. If you know something, say something.

"We've seen first-hand the resilience of our farmers, but I draw the line on regional crime."

Crime Stoppers is working with the NSW Police Force Rural Crime Prevention Team and the Police Transport and Public Safety Command across a range of major crime areas including stock theft, marine theft and poaching.

"We don't want to know who you are; we just want to know what you know," NSW Crime Stoppers CEO, Peter Price AM, said,

"Crime Stoppers is calling for a whole of community approach to draw the line on crime and adopt better prevention strategies and be on the lookout for any suspicious behaviour. The result will be a better, more prosperous future and healthier communities that thrive."

The newly-launched community awareness campaign will run state-wide for a 12-month period.

Crime Stoppers will be visiting regional communities to engage with communities in an effort to help reduce crime and increase reporting.

Crime in regional areas is not new; however, it continues to be a growing area of concern for the whole of NSW, not just the farming community and therefore police say it needs a whole community approach.

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