THE Kempsey Facebook page Kempsey Crime Watch is taking a more proactive stance, with the formation of a community action group.
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More than 50 people met in November to discuss ways they could better tackle the issues of crime and drug use in Kempsey.
Teresa O’Connell facilitated the meeting for Kempsey Crime Watch and told The Macleay Argus it was about the community accepting that we have social problems in Kempsey, and working on some productive and positive resolutions to the issues.
“There are growing drug and crime problems in Kempsey,” Ms O’Connell said.
“We believe there is a lack of access to programs in Kempsey for young people with drug addiction and sociological problems.
“We also spoke about how the group may be able to set up education programs in schools, get involved with diversion sentencing programs, or assist the PCYC in their youth basketball program.”
Kempsey crime statistics released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research indicate that overall levels of crime in the region decreased in the September quarter.
But the rate of domestic break and enters is three times the state average.
The Minister for Police and Emergency Services Stuart Ayre told The Macleay Argus the latest crime statistics speak for themselves with major crime categories in Kempsey stable or falling.
“These results are a testament to the outstanding work done by police in driving crime down in the area,” Minister Ayre said.
However, Ms O’Connell believes the statistics are most likely inaccurate because of a lack of reporting by the community.
“There is a 2012 report on crime in Kempsey and it shows that there is a culture in our town on not reporting crime and a culture that crime is acceptable," she said.
“The issue came up at the meeting and it is my fear that the statistics are down because people are not reporting.
“Some crime is down, but petty theft, burglary and stealing from dwellings are all on the rise, and those statistics don’t record the recent spike in crime which has been reported by police.”
Ms O’Connell would also like to make clear that administrators of the Kempsey Crime Watch Facebook page will not tolerate any racist, sexist or offensive language on the site.
“The only time any comment about race can be made is when providing a description of a suspect or giving a witness account to an event,” she said.