Superintendent Paul Fehon told a meeting of 50 people at the Wauchope Country Club last night that crime figures overall haven’t changed in ten years. He said patrol cars are the new office, and are much more effective for fighting crime than two officers in a station, unable to leave their desks.

“Sometimes we have to be careful what we ask for.  We put our police on when the data shows us what we need.”

He said Wauchope has six police officers based there, compared to three in 2006.

Local woman Emma Jenkins, who began the online petition which got 1,100 signatures, said Wauchope is a beautiful town where people should feel safe, but don’t.  

“A 24/7 police station is a must.”

George Hegarty of the Wauchope Community Progress Association said people felt there was an increase in crime.

“A lot of young hoons are running about, causing trouble, and people feel their chances of being caught are very slight.” he said.

Inspector Kim Fehon produced figures saying overall crime rates haven’t changed in a decade. 

Last year, there were 25 reported assaults, 44 break-ins which was the lowest rate in a decade, one robbery, eight vehicles stolen and 57 incidents of malicious damage.

She said there’s been a slight increase in fraud over the last decade, to sometimes four a month, none of them major.  An example is failing to pay for petrol.

38 drugs crimes were detected in 2015.  She said police are pro-active and go out looking for suppliers, often with information from the public.

There’s been a slight increase in sexual assault, with seven reported in 2015.  

“This is the only category where Wauchope is above the state average per 100,000.  A large proportion are historical,” she said.

Police have used their powers to stop and search people and cars over the last decade from 50 in 2006 to 200 last year. 

Local Presbyterian minister, Peter Huxley said he didn’t think police statistics reflect what’s happening.

“We have reported two thefts in the last 12 months.”

Others at the meeting complained of anti-social behaviour, like hoons driving at speed on council land in areas where children play, sometimes on unregistered trail bikes.  The superintendent urged everyone to report crime because it helped them build a picture of policing needs, and when they get multiple complaints, they go out to the area reported.

One woman said that recently, she heard a mother-of-two screaming next door and saw a man abusing her.  “I rang triple zero, and told the operator it was escalating – he was throwing her against a brick wall.”  

She said the operator kept asking her what was happening and for a description of the man.

Several people praised the police for their quick response to crimes like a break-in, and threatening behaviour by a neighbour.  But some Wauchope residents expressed concern about groups of youths engaged in anti-social activity, hanging about Bain Street and the IGA.

Superintendent Fehon said they have a youth liaison officer based in Port Macquarie, and a senior constable who goes around the schools and gives lectures about cyber crime.

“We don’t target youth. We only target offenders. If you see people intimidating others, or impeding free flow of others, the police will come along and give them a move on.”

Superintendent Fehon said technology helps them solve crimes.

“Our mobility helps us.  We get notified of all prisoners who are released and coming into our communities.”

One woman told the meeting that she’d reported a robbery at her home, and told police where she thought the stolen goods were.

“Police called at their property and didn’t check the shed.  They had the goods.”

Superintendent Fehon said they need evidence.

“We can’t check sheds. We can’t break the law. We don’t have the power to start searching houses.  We have to apply for a warrant and have a minimum of seven police.”