For the first time there will be a Rural Crime Prevention Team to specifically tackle rural crime across the state.
As part of a NSW Police restructure, detective inspector Cameron Whiteside has been appointed to the position of state rural crime co-ordinator, to be based at Dubbo.
NSW Police Western Region commander, assistant commissioner Geoff McKechnie, said police had advertised for three detective sergeant positions to be located at Moree, Parkes and Cootamundra.
These positions will lead the Rural Crime Prevention team.
The team will provide support to the 47 rural crime investigators that are stationed across the state.
Each team will have an intelligence analyst attached to it to provide timely dissemination of information across the network, which will allow analysis of trends and patterns.
“This is the first time rural crime investigation has had its own stand alone management structure,” Mr McKechnie said.
“Previously they were attached to the local area command they were based at.
“The new model will ensure rural crime investigators are focused on investigating just rural crime, providing expertise and advice to producers about crime prevention, which is something we have been working hard to establish relationships.”
Mr McKechnie said NSW Police would launch information campaigns across the new structure in the new year to make sure communities were informed about what was happening in their local area.
“There will also be an additional roll out of rural crime investigation workshops aimed at police working in regional areas in 2018, with a number of courses already conducted,” he said.