LOCAL Police Area Commander Superintendent Paul Fehon told the latest Community Safety Precinct Committee meeting in Kempsey that Macleay Valley crime trends are showing improvement in virtually every category.
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Just seven people attended the meeting at the Kempsey Shire Council chambers on Tuesday.
Kempsey Shire Council Community Engagement director Kathy Oliver and councillor Lou Kesby represented Kempsey, the other attendees were from Nambucca and Port Macquarie.
By contrast the CSPC meeting held in Kempsey last November attracted a standing room only crowd.
Superintendent Fehon detailed the crime statistics from the Macleay, Nambucca and Hastings Valley policing areas for the past eight weeks.
Crime in the significant categories of assault, stealing, malicious damage, drug detections and motor vehicle theft were all tracking below projected levels.
“It is pleasing to be able to report the figures we are seeing," Supt Fehon said.
“Particularly with regard to assaults and specifically in licensed premises, only two assaults have been reported in licensed premises.
“That tells me that the publicans and staff are working well serving alcohol responsibly.”
Motor vehicle theft was another bright spot with only 11 vehicles stolen in the past eight weeks.
In three of those weeks, no vehicles were reported stolen.
The rate of break-and-enter offences are still are a concern for police, with 57 offences in July 2015 compared with 44 in July 2014.
However, the total for the year to date is less than the equivalent period last year, and in four of the seven months for which there is data the total of offences has been less than last year.
Local Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector Steve Clarke praised the work of the drug- focused strike force Intrepid, based in Kempsey, and promised there was more to come.
“I can assure the public that our people are out there conducting overt and covert operations to combat drug supply in Kempsey,” he said.
“That is really our focus, mid to high level dealers and suppliers of illegal drugs.”
Forty-two drug detections were made in the Macleay area in the past eight weeks - 17 of these were at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre at Aldavilla.
One robbery using force was recorded in the past eight weeks.
“This relates to an incident where a young man was enticed to an address by a young lady and subsequently had his personal property and car stolen,” Superintendent Fehon said.