A RISE in break-ins, thefts, assaults, and torched vehicles over the past few weeks has Moree residents up in arms.
Locals say a spike in crime has lead to people organising public meetings and making plans for Neighbourhood Watch-style surveillance groups.
Local police have noted the community’s frustration - and say they’re doing all they can - while also defending a decision not to pursue vehicles that are believed to be stolen.
Meanwhile, community leaders - including Mayor Katrina Humphries - said some local support services needed to take a more proactive role in the community.
Both Mrs Humphries and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said they had received complaints that some local support services had little care, or interest, in the town as a result of some agencies being manned by fly-in-fly-out staff.
Mrs Humphries said there had been a marked crime spike in town over the past few weeks, and she’s one of many concerned residents.
There have been reports of multiple farm vehicles have been broken into, then torched, during attempts to steal tools and fridges.
People have also highlighted multiple stolen motorbikes and quads, and a number of home invasions and business break-ins.
At least one vehicle has been torched on a main street in the early hours of the morning, while a patient at the Moree Hospital reportedly lost their vehicle to a fire in the car park.
Early on Wednesday morning there was an alleged break-in and assault at a central cafe.
Stolen motorbikes have also become a double problem, as they have reportedly been used for hooning on the streets in the middle of the night.
Moree locals have expressed their frustration with the police, even tabling an online petition calling for an inquest into the procedures and practices of the Barwon police station.
The petition had 557 signatures on Wednesday.
Barwon Police Commander, Superintendent Paul McDonald said he understood the community’s frustrations, but stressed that the department was doing all it could.
Mr McDonald said the region was dealing with a group that had little respect for their community, families, and the law and the issue should be addressed as a social problem as much as a crime problem.
The Land has received reports from crime victims who said they had reported sightings of stolen motorbikes to police, but were told officers weren’t allowed to pursue them.
Danielle Kilby said she woke up to her quad bike being stolen from her residence, phoned police, followed the stolen bike to a house in Moree and alerted police of its whereabouts.
Miss Kilby said the police told her they had a ‘no pursuit’ policy and would instead monitor the area to try and recover her bike.
As of Wednesday she was still missing her quad bike.
Mr McDonald said while there wasn’t a blanket rule for vehicle pursuits, police were required to act under a safe driver policy when pursuing a vehicle, which considers the safety of the community, the police officer, and person using the vehicle.
Mrs Humphries said the safe driver policy should be implemented.
“I know there is a risk in pursuing these vehicles… but there is also a risk in not (doing so).”
She also acknowledged what was happening in Moree was a multi-faceted problem, representing a range of social issues she said stemmed from poor school attendance, an unstable home life, and substance abuse.
Both Mrs Humphries and MP Adam Marshall called for a more proactive approach - and a better understanding of the community - from the support services operating in Moree.
The pair, also said it was important government agencies were staffed by local residents.
“The people running our government agencies need to live in Moree - there shouldn’t be anyone working on a fly-in, fly-out system,” Mrs Humphries said.
