Community and Police partnership grows in rural crime prevention

Police and Community Working Together

TasFarmers this week attended a local forum with landowners and TasPolice, where concerns were raised about poaching and trespass activity in the Northern Midlands, particularly in and around the Longford, Nile, and Cressy areas.

The most important message for landowners is that police encourage reporting all suspicious activity to assist in keeping the community safe.

A TasPolice representative said that police presence, backed by information from the community, remains one of the strongest deterrents to illegal activity.

They also reminded farmers that they can contact the Police Assistance Line for non-emergency situations, such as reporting a crime or making general enquiries, on 131 444. In the event of an emergency, calling 000 remains critical to ensure a timely response.

Among the issues discussed was the challenge of recovering stolen property, with police highlighting the crucial role of identification. While recording serial numbers, marking equipment, and taking photographs may seem time-consuming, officers stressed that these steps can significantly improve the chances of stolen goods being returned.

Local farmer and community leader Sandy Gibson said it was pleasing to see such strong engagement, with a good turnout of landowners at the meeting.

"As landowners, we gain an understanding of what’s happening and can put it all into perspective. Police rely on community assistance to identify issues, so it’s important that farmers report any suspicious activity to enable investigations to take place."

Mr Gibson said it was good for the community to be heard and feel connected, with plans already underway to hold the meeting annually and ensure the partnership of listening and working together continues.

TasFarmers thanks retiring Sergeant Mike Gillies for his longstanding service across the northern regions. His efforts have helped build strong relationships between landholders and TasPolice.