TCMF 2017: Oxley police praise behaviour of Tamworth Country Music Festival revellers

More than 200 police are working to patrol in and around Tamworth and there is high praise for country music revellers with just a handful of issues.

“The greater majority of people in the CBD for Australia Day are kids and families and that's what it's all about, and it's gone away from the badder old days when it was all about alcohol and music obviously, today we see families everywhere and that goes everyday and into the night,” Oxley Acting Superintendent Jeff Budd told The Leader.

“I think the conduct at festival is getting better and better every year as people adjust to what festival is all about.”

Undercover police have been deployed throughout the festival, so too the dog squad, bike patrols, beat police in the CBD as well as extra highway officers.

“Oh look I think it's really important for general deterrence the way we deploy our police, and pretty much in the main street within 50m or 100m you should be able to see a police officer and I think that's really good, and a really nice feeling to the festival and it makes it comfortable for families,” Acting Superintendent Budd said.

“But if people don't see police, whether that’s the plain clothes or the beats, we have access to all of council's CCTV that we monitor from within our police command centre so we can zero in on any issues or people and follow them around the CBD, it really is a fantastic resource.”

Organisers are toasting big crowds, so too some pubs and clubs and police believe alcohol-related incidents are down across the festival.

“I think publicans are doing a good trade, numbers seem to be up and the conduct seems to be very good so it's great for everyone, that’s why it’s a great show,” Acting Superintendent Budd said.