FRAUD is a crime category which is high on the agenda for rural police, one which Western Regional Commander Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie says is on the increase.
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“A lot of these frauds are committed on people who are living in rural areas for any number of reasons,” he said.
The annual Rural Crime Investigators Conference on October 25 and 26 gave 34 specially-trained Rural Crime Investigators (RCIs) from NSW Police the opportunity to meet and discuss crime trends and subsequent strategies specific to rural and regional NSW.
“Rural crime is a very significant issue for us at the moment right across New South Wales and it’s important we take the opportunity to bring our specialist investigators together and put them in a room where they are talking with experts for other parts of the rural industries, so they gain an understanding of contemporary issues,” Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
“It’s also a great opportunity for them to network and share experiences and talk about matters they are investigating along the way.”
Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie said the conference also had a national focus with guest spokespeople from both the Queensland Police Service and Victoria Police discussing current rural crime trends across their respective states.
Technology was a theme which featured highly during the conference.
“Certainly that technology enabled crime is a significant issue for us but it’s also a plus as well,” Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
“Talking about the value of GPS, cameras and drones and the ability to use aircraft and all those sort of things to help us with the detection for the investigation as well.”
He said a lot of people can be targeted because of the isolation of their properties and if they go away on holidays they can become a ‘soft target’ for thieves.
Stock theft, bio-security and illegal hunting were also issues discussed at the conference.
Trespassing on rural properties, the growth of the illicit poppies industry, and the use of GPS and other spatial technologies were also on the agenda.
To contact police about rural crime call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page at www.nsw.crimestoppers.com.au
People can also make a report to a RCI by contacting their local police station.
