Up to $250,000 in funding to ramp up vigilance and deter criminal activity is now available to not-for-profit organisations, local groups, the Inverell Chamber of Commerce and local businesses thorough the NSW government Community Safety Fund. 

New England Local Area Command (LAC) crime manager Inspector Ann Joy said CCTV cameras, property security measures, such as ‘Lock it or lose it’ initiatives and signage installed by councils, and crime prevention programs are some historical initiatives put in place, and they have reduced the load on local police. 

“Yes, it does,” Inspector Joy said. “We partner with local council, we partner with all sorts of local community organisations. The NSW police can’t do all of these things alone, and so the input from the community is highly valued.”

Inspector Joy said the state government determines funding allocation for projects, but stressed there should be an element of sustainability to each project.

“(It) most certainly does assist us in terms of targeting crime issues, and these project and considerations need to be ongoing,” she said. “It takes a little bit of planning and input from the community. Every town and council area has its own perspective on the issues, and perhaps a slightly different approach has to be taken.”

She said there have been a number of projects enacted since she joined the New England LAC, such as the the Armidale community safety committee and through council community safety precinct meetings held quarterly across the command, involving relevant council areas,

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall agreed it was important to consider and invest in local solutions. 

“I want everyone to feel safe and proud of our local community and this funding allows unique solutions to be implemented,” he said. 

The Community Safety Fund support projects that: address local crime hot spots and anti-social behaviour in communities; promote safe and inclusive use of public spaces and collaborative approaches to community safety and crime reduction, prevention and detection initiatives.

Applications close 5pm, Monday, 20 February 20. Further information and application is found on www.crimeprevention.nsw.gov.au