Community patrols ‘could work for Wagga’ in crime fight with help from Neighbourhood Watch

In 2017, Moree residents formed a ‘mobile Neighbourhood Watch’ that saw members patrol the streets response to high rates of crime like graffiti and theft.

Moree Plains mayor Katrina Humphries, who led council when the patrols were introduced, told The Daily Advertiser that the policy had been a success and could work for Wagga.

“It should be rolled out across NSW,” she said.

Last week, Wagga resident and former federal law enforcement officer Matt Nolte called on the city to adopt a ‘Community on Patrol’ program in response to concerns about burglary, arson and car thefts.

The proposal was based on a program from Canada’s Alberta region and would see community members paroling streets and reporting suspicious activity to police but not intervening directly in response to crime.

The Daily Advertiser has been unable to reach the founder of the program in Moree but Cr Humphries said the program had delivered results.

“I don’t have a statistic to put my finger on but I know myself it was a good thing," she said.

“I Have had cleaning staff tell me how much safer they feel around town at four o’clock in the morning when they start their cleaning rounds

“It’s because they knew the (patrols) were wandering around. The guys and girls knew where the cleaners were at certain times and they would drive past and give them a wave.

“Our crime figures have improved dramatically.” 

According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the number of break and enter offences within Moree Plains dropped by about a third in the 12 months after the patrols were brought in.

Property damage fell by more than 10 per cent and many types of property crime remained ‘stable’ except for an 18 per cent increase in theft from retail stores.

Cr Humphries said she was not aware of any incidents where the patrols were confronted by suspects or where members went beyond their remit and physically intervened during incidents.

“They have a good rapport with police and they went through safety checks,” she said.

“The key to it working was going through Neighbourhood Watch to make it all legal.”

Wagga Neighbourhood Watch has not opposed the idea of patrols but has expressed concerns unless conditions are met.

Wagga MP Joe McGirr’s crime policy does not include explicit support for community patrols.

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