The three new appointees were confirmed this week by council and will get to work at their first group meeting tomorrow.

These are high calibre appointments and bring a new level of knowledge to the working group which has a difficult job ahead of it.

There are two aspects to these appointments which should not go unnoticed.

The first is that the seriousness of the law and order issues in Tamworth over the past few years has triggered a community response. While residents want the problems of unacceptably high rates of break-ins, car thefts and other offences dealt with to restore community safety and wellbeing, they understand the community has a role to play in finding solutions. These new appointees have stepped forward because they want to assist the process and to help all those involved achieve the same outcome. They understand the severity of the issue and the need for action. 

Retired magistrate Malcolm McPherson, former police officer Mark Hamlin and Peel High School principal Bill Campbell have not joined the committee to fill in some spare time.

They have nominated because they want to make a contribution and with their extensive experience in their vocational areas of expertise they will do just that.

The second aspect is that the council has made a wise decision in revamping its Crime Prevention Working Group with an improved structure.

This committee can deliver valuable outcomes for the council and the community. With its links to the Oxley Local Area Command, and through the council to the NSW government, the committee now has a real opportunity to do some serious work.

The committee’s task, however, is not about catching crooks, but it is about providing input to the law and order debate and devising community-related initiatives which will make Tamworth and district safer and better equipped to deal with the issues that erode our valued way of life in a proud municipality.