THE Tamworth crime prevention group has signalled a crackdown on truancy as an answer to perceived crime rates in town.
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The council working group met recently and chair Russell Webb said police reported “crime across most categories” was somewhat down on the back of proactive work in the community.
However, a petition has been circulated online calling on Tamworth Regional Council to lobby the state government to invest in more police for Tamworth.
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“For years Tamworth citizens have been put on the back foot when addressing the issues of the juvenile crime rate,” the petition said.
Cr Webb said the committee would investigate local truancy rates, which he said were an issue at the moment.
“People are very aware today of what’s happening,” he said.
“Truancy at school is something that’s really an issue at the moment and it has been for a long time.
“The committee will write to the government to find out what are the levels of non-attendance at schools and what do we have working in the community in terms of truancy officers.
Truancy at school is something that’s a really issues at the moment and it has been for a long time.
- Councillor Russell Webb
“If we get more kids going to school and not wandering the streets it should reduce juvenile crime, it’s not a going to stop it, but it’s going to help.”
He also said the crime prevention group would apply for more CCTV funding, as current infrastructure had “proved worthwhile”.
The state government announced it would splash $3.9 billion on the NSW Police Force in the 2018-19 budget.
“After a horror start to the year on NSW roads, an additional $83 million has been allocated for policing on country roads, including doubling the mobile drug testing program with 100,000 additional tests per year,” police minister Troy Grant said.
“We will continue to provide the resources our men and women in blue need to do the amazing work they’re renowned for.”
The budget will also include funding to redevelop eight police stations, including one at Collarenebri.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
