Lack of police were high on the agenda when Walgett shire mayor Peter Waterford met with NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney in Lightning Ridge yesterday.
The commissioner was in the Ridge as part of a tour of western NSW meeting with local police.
Mayor Waterford said Lightning Ridge had been experiencing a shortage in police numbers for more than two years which had impacted on crime responses.
"We need certain numbers of police in our town because the population demands it, and our population in the Ridge is much bigger than is officially recorded so that impacts even more," Cr Waterford said.
"Often I hear people down the street saying, 'there's no point in ringing the police station because there is no one there'."
Cr Waterford said he wasn't able to have a very lengthy meeting with the commissioner to discuss details of addressing the problem, but he did say the commissioner responded positively.
"I told him that throughout the command we're down to nine sergeants, and said we needed more as fast as he could send them over."
Cr Waterford said the commissioner promised to look into it with Castlereagh Local Area Commander Stan Single.
"Hopefully we'll start to get a few more sergeants soon.
"We've had two new duty officers assigned to the command recently, with Peter Smith taking up a post at Lightning Ridge."
Commissioner Moroney said he was in the process of implementing a range of incentives to attract police to work in this area.
"I will be looking at how I can deploy officers for Lightning Ridge and Walgett, at possibly the next (police) graduation ceremony in May but definitely from the following ceremonies in August and December."
Before departing Commissioner Moroney said he wanted to thank the Lightning Ridge community for its ongoing support of the local police.
"I believe this is crucial in order for us to be able to drive down the fear of crime.
"If it's done with the community's consultation we'll be able to get results and make this a safer place."
Meanwhile, Local Area Command Inspector Greg McMahon said he felt it was excellent for the local police to be able to get contact with the commissioner.
He said police shortages had been an issue for the past 20 years due to difficulties with replacing staff when they decided to leave.
"We don't have any control over that unfortunately.
"We've been short in the Ridge for the past two months but three extra staff will be brought in by the beginning of May, which will give us a better ability to act.
"It will have a huge impact, because we will be back to full strength by then with nine officers."
Commissioner Moroney awarded three officers with awards yesterday morning at Walgett.
Senior Constable Kelli White was awarded a commissioner's commendation for bravery for her actions following a gas explosion at Kogarah in 1995, Sergeant Michael Thomsen received his first clasp national medal for 25 years service and Sergeant Ron Morriss was also awarded a national medal for 15 years service.
Commissioner Moroney said he would be taking all the issues raised during his western tour back to newly appointed police minister John Watkins.
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