CRIME in Wingham and the lack of a police presence in the town were the hot issues when Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead visited Central Park for an informal community consultation session on Wednesday May 20.
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Local resident Michelle Bird is so concerned about that situation that she has started a petition on change.org called ‘Bring back a full time police officer to the Wingham community’, petitioning the NSW Police Commissioner, the Acting Superintendent, and local members of parliament.
In only three days, the petition has received 600 signatures from supporters. Michelle says her goal is to reach 5000.
Michelle decided to start the petition as she was fed up with the situation after waking up and reading people’s Facebook statuses about incidents.
“It’s sad to see Wingham go downhill,” she said. “I’ve been hearing noises after dark that I never used to. Now I keep everything locked.”
Nikole Honner’s house in Stockyard Circuit has been broken into twice in the past week, both times while she was at home, and one of those times while she was in the shower.
Nikole only knew of the break-ins because items such as cigarettes, jumpers and shoes had been taken. “They are so sneaky about it,” she said.
She is taking the drastic measure of cutting down all of the trees at the front of her property so that it is not so hidden from view.
There was a general consensus amongst the people talking to Mr Bromhead that residents do not call police as “they’re never going to get here,” as Nicole said. “Kids know that it’s going to be at least 20 minutes before the cops come from Taree.”
After listening to the concerns of those present, Mr Bromhead agreed that he would love to see a full time police presence in Wingham and he will write to the Superintendent to ask him to look at the situation and meet with concerned residents.
Mr Bromhead said that the Northern Region, which includes the Manning Great Lakes command, is the only region in NSW to have received an increase in police numbers in recent years.
Since December 2013, Manning Great Lakes has had an increase of five police, four detectives and seven general duties officers.
However, the only way Wingham will receive the police presence many residents and business owners so desperately want is for all incidences to be reported.
It’s all about statistics – incident reports are the only way to prove that a presence is needed in Wingham.
So residents are once again encouraged to report all incidences, no matter how small, especially if they wish to have a police officer stationed at Wingham.
You can sign the petition on change.org by clicking the link on the Wingham Chronicle’s Facebook page.
