Cowra mayor Bill West has praised local police for putting a dent in Cowra’s break and enter statistics.
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Cr West, who had his final community safety precinct committee meeting with Canobolas Local Area Command police last week, said the level of break and enters in the town was one of the issues raised at the meeting.
While last Thursday’s meeting was his final with officers from the Canobolas Local Area Command, Cr West said he hopes similar meetings are held with officers from the Chifley Police District.
Cowra will become part of the Chifley Police district which is based in Bathurst, from early March following a restructure announced in November last year.
The Canobolas Local Area Command (LAC) is being merged with the Lachlan LAC to form the Central West district.
Cowra and Canowindra will join Bathurst’s Chifley district.
If Chifley doesn’t hold the meetings now Cr West said he would be encouraging officers from the command to do so.
During his final meeting with Canobolas Cr West said they were able to look at the relevant crime statistics for Cowra and see the success rate of the local officers.
”They explained the success rate the police were having and the hard work they are doing to resolve any issues,” Cr West said.
Following last week’s meeting Cr West said he is keen to ensure police numbers in Cowra remain the same when the station moves into the Chifley district.
“I also had the chance to raise the issue of the cramped conditions the police work in at the Cowra station,” Cr West said of the topics discussed.
“The crime figures by the large are very complimentary of the Cowra police even acknowledging the spikes in break and enters.
“The Cowra police have worked very hard to get the figures down.
“It highlights the excellent work the police are doing in Cowra,” Cr West said.
Crime manager Detective Inspector Bruce Grassick told the meeting car thefts in October to December last year were down on the same period in 2016, however police recognised the spike in burnt-out cars and recent arrests had made an impact.
“By all accounts over the last couple of weeks, that has died off,” he said.
“We are receiving some, very spasmodically, but before we were getting quite a significant number so that’s a tick in relation to having that matter resolved.”
Detective Insp Grassick also said Rebels activity in Cowra and attempts by the Banditos to re-establish a chapter in Molong were acted on swiftly.
“There was an operation conducted in November covering Cowra, Molong and Orange in relation to all our Banditos members and Rebels members and that seems to have put a lid on it, we are still actively engaged with that,” he said.
He said Operation Pedro ran in Lucknow and Molong to track the transport of drugs and stolen property on arterial roads.
Lachlan Local Area Commander Superintendent Chris Taylor attended, ahead of taking charge of the Central West police district when Lachlan and Canobolas merge next month.
“It’s an important way we can get out message across to our communities about what we’re doing and they can pass on their concerns or compliments,” he said.