Want to know what is going on? All you need to do is to eavesdrop at local cafes, hospital waiting rooms and bank queues. Locals are aware of things. They can give names, details and profiles, even background information on any issue concerning their town. 

Of course locals say, “you can sneeze on one side of the Macintyre River and can be dead on the other.” But this is not necessarily a bad thing.

New England Superintendent Scott Tanner focused on the assistance of the public in the recent drug busts in Inverell and Tingha.

“There is a misconception that you can come to a small town, such as Inverell and Tingha, and that you’ll remain anonymous,” he said.

“Well I can tell you that country people are very astute.

“They can pick people who are doing the wrong thing and they can pick people who don’t belong in their town. If they feel that they can come and hide, they will be caught.” 

With this nod to the people of Inverell, Superintendant Tanner acknowledged their huge input and assistance to the police.

After all, in small towns, people really know what is going on and they are privy to vital information about matters that would go unnoticed in a big city where it is easy to be anonymous.

Even people who have little to do with the drug world, will notice strange goings-on within their local community.

And that’s part of the beauty, and sometimes hardship, of living in towns like Inverell where people make it their business to know what you are up to.

But it’s also very helpful. “Police can only act on information they receive,” Superintendant Tanner said before asking for the community’s help. 

Police say possible indicators of drug related activities include strange odours, diverted electricity, chemical containers and waste, blacked out windows, hoses and pipes in strange places, blinds down with bright indoor lighting and vehicles arriving at odd hours. 

Anyone with information regarding drug related crime is encouraged to contact the Inverell Police on 6722 0599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.