POLICE numbers and crime rates on the Tilligerry Peninsula appear to be its residents’ greatest law enforcement concerns, which were aired during a meeting with the Port Stephens command’s top brass last week.
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About 25 residents, plus Port MP Kate Washington, turned out to a meeting with the police command’s senior management team at Tilligerry RSL on Thursday, June 9.
There, Superintendent Chris Craner, commander for the Port Stephens Local Area Command, the crime manager, local area manager and Inspectors heard concerns held by residents and shared information about how policing is managed on the peninsula.
“This wasn’t about showing our strengths or hiding our weaknesses,” Superintendent Craner said.
“It was just about hearing from the community about what they think we can do better, and for us to make commitments to them about what we can do.”
The limited number of police within the Tanilba Bay and Lemon Tree Passage communities, crime rates, perceived crime, anti-social behaviour and hours the peninsula’s police station is opened were all raised at Thursday’s meeting.
“We will now look at strategies within our capabilities to put extra police into the Tilligerry areas,” Superintendent Craner said.
Residents in attendance gained insight as to why the Lemon Tree Passage police station is not open full time: because today’s police cars are mobile police stations.
The community engagement exercise was not a one off.
The senior management team, which meet every four to five weeks to discuss policing and strategy in Port Stephens, will begin moving around the command.
Before meeting amongst themselves, they will first talk with residents to discuss any concerns within their communities.
The team are planning to meet in Tea Gardens next.
Superintendent Craner said the exercise was part of a wider push to encourage all law enforcement staff to engage with the community.
“The Constables on the ground can tell you what the community thinks, but it’s not the same as hearing it firsthand,” he said.
“This [moving the meeting around] will give us a good feel as to what is happening in the community and help us make commitments about what we can do to address them.”
