Badges and blue uniforms mixed with residents and business owners in Port Macquarie-Hastings Council during the community safety precinct meeting.

Figures from the Mid North Coast Local Area Command’s three regions were examined by licensees, health professionals and Council representatives. 

“We want to give you the true picture of crimes,” Superintendent Paul Fehon said. 

The statistics shown were for the last two years, with closer comparative analysis on 2014 crimes.

Superintendent Fehon said there were policing challenges as populations swell in coastal areas.

“Some places like Nambucca are rapidly changing and going from being a fishing village to a larger town,” he said. Significant arrests were listed, including those for stabbing offences and other assaults this year. Superintendent Fehon said businesses were playing a vital role in supplying security footage.

“Having good quality CCTV is really useful for investigators,” he said.

The recent permanent appointment of Sergeant Andrew Kable as Crime Management Coordinator was also having an impact.

But Sergeant Kable warned residents a spike in fraud may be hard to prevent locally because of online crime.

“It’s impossible for state police to do much, so education is our main tool,” he said.

“We tell people they shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

The next meeting will be held in Kempsey in November.