Around 100 staff and owners of venues across the region gathered for an Armed Robbery Prevention and Awareness event for licensed premises on March 26.

The event was hosted by the Hastings Liquor Accord at Panthers Port Macquarie.

Australian Hotels Association NSW's director of liquor and policing, John Green presented the information with input from NSW detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime unit.

"Any armed hold up is one too many," said Mr Green.

"There has been a 74 per cent drop in robberies with firearms which is a dramatic reduction in armed holdups over the last 10 years.

"The trauma to staff is devastating in an armed robbery and we all have a duty of care to protect venue staff.

"We don't want you or your people injured, the bad guys want to be gone and your insurance will cover robbery.

"We encourage you to comply, get them out quickly."

NSW armed robberies with firearms fell from 590 in 2007 to 156 in 2018, while robbery with other weapons fell from 2280 in 2007 to 837 in the same period.

Mr Green said robbery offences in the Mid North Coast were statistically stable despite a recent spike of 18 per cent in robbery with firearms and 10 per cent increase in robbery offences at NSW licensed premises.

"We have seen a little spike in last three months that have been of concern on the Mid North Coast," he said.

"Armed robbers are getting smarter, they are getting in, out and gone quicker.

"Those that are well planned will do reconnaissance, they will be in your venue checking out security procedures."

Attendees were advised to remember 'Safety and Survival' during a robbery by following instructions, staying calm and keeping a mental note of the appearance, voice and clothing of their attackers.

After a robbery, it is important to attend to any injured people, activate an alarm and lock down the venue as a crime scene.

Mr Green said most offences were being committed with various weapons such as knifes, swords, machetes, baseball bats and large sticks but there were still unsecured firearms being stolen and used.

Syringes had mostly dropped out of use in robbery offences, he said during the presentation.

Attendees were also shown images and video of previous armed robberies.

Port Macquarie crime prevention unit's Senior Constable Steve Cherry said the event was valuable for venues to update their prevention strategies.

"It's an indication of what can occur," he said.

"Any one armed robbery is too many because staff and their families are affected.

"We also have to think where does that money go, does it go towards drugs in the community?

"Armed robberies have far reaching consequences."

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