RURAL NSW will get its own deputy police commissioner after government announced a reshuffle of its top brass this morning.
Deputy Premier Troy Grant said NSW Police would be ‘re-engineered’ to protect the community, including an increased focus on terrorism, drugs, and crimes impacting suburban and regional communities.
Mr Grant and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said five new executive positions would be created to report directly to the Commissioner – up from the current three positions – including for the first time a deputy commissioner for regional NSW field operations.
The recruitment process for the new positions will begin immediately. They are:
- A Deputy Commissioner for Metropolitan Field Operations
- A Deputy Commissioner for Regional NSW Field Operations
- A Deputy Commissioner for Investigations and Counter Terrorism;
- A Deputy Commissioner for Specialist Support; and
- An Executive in charge of Corporate Services
“Let me be clear this is not about simply creating more deputies – it’s about making the first significant reforms to the NSW Police Force’s structure in two decades, preparing it to tackle crime and, importantly, prevent it,’’ Mr Grant said.
“Regional communities have their own challenges that are different from the city: the tyranny of distance, the scourge of ice that is tearing towns apart, higher domestic violence rates and rural crime such as stock theft. The regions and Sydney will both benefit from a tailored focus rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.”
The announcement follows recent criticism of NSW Police over its handling of the Lindt Cafe Siege in 2014.
A rural crime report commissioned by state government is also currently with cabinet.
Earlier this morning Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MP Robert Borsak – along with Opposition leader Luke Foley, the Greens, and Christian Democrats – called on Premier Mike Baird to install Nick Kaldas as Police Commissioner.
Mr Kaldas retired in March after 34 years in the police force. Commissioner Scipione is due to retire next July.
Mr Kaldas’ main competitor would be former rival, current deputy commissioner Cath Burn, who came under intense scrutiny during the Lindt Cafe Siege inquest .
"All along there's been one option open to Mike Baird to solve the tension at the very top of the NSW Police, and that's making Nick Kaldas the Commissioner of Police," Mr Borsak said.
"Nick Kaldas would not rest and certainly would not be off duty when our state's largest city was in a crisis. “He would show the leadership needed to resolve the crisis and make our state safe.”