Announced today, the teams will work across northern, southern and central NSW and be coordinated by three detective sergeants and a detective inspector. 

The aim is to incorporate investigation and prevention with a strong focus on analysis and information and intelligence sharing across the regions.

The Hume Local Area Command already has a rural crime investigator (RCI), Mick Calleja, based at Goulburn.

Hume LAC Crime Manager Detective Inspector Chad Gillies said the new structure would improve cooperation across borders and enable better proactive intervention of rural crime.

“Rural crime is an ongoing issue in all country areas,” he said.

“They (rural crime prevention teams) will give rise to an increase of cooperation and assist rural crime investigators in a more strategic way.”

Part of the Hume officer’s role involved proactively targeting rural crimes such as illegal hunting.

“This will improve their ability to do that across borders,” Det Insp Gillies said.

The announcement was made by NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, and Deputy Commissioner Regional NSW Field Operations Gary Worboys along with Minister for Police Troy Grant.

The rural crime prevention teams will work across northern, southern and central NSW and will be overseen by the State Rural Crime Coordinator.

Commissioner Fuller said the new structure would allow for a greater focus on proactivity and prevention.

“We are improving outcomes for victims of rural crime and ensuring we have the right structure in place to do that. This takes away one of the challenges police have had for some time,” Commissioner Fuller said.

“The rural crime prevention teams will share information across the districts which will allow officers to identify patterns and recidivist behaviour.”

Deputy Commissioner Worboys said improvements were continually made to ensure police could target and respond to rural crime issues such as stock theft, trespass and illegal hunting.

“Rural Crime Prevention Teams will provide support to victims and introducing a better structure for our investigators ensures they can perform their duties without compromise,” he said.

“We know rural crime is one of the biggest issues for regional and rural NSW and this structure provides better oversight and resources for officers to proactively prevent crime.”

Western Region Commander and NSW Police Corporate Spokesperson for Rural Crime, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie said rural crime costs communities, both emotionally and financially. 

“This is an opportunity to improve policing in regional NSW to ensure we have more police on the frontline where we need them to prevent crime and support victims,” he said.

“We will work closely with communities to address the issues that affect them the most.”