COUNTRY Mayors Association of NSW members recently met via Zoom with NSW Police deputy commissioner, Paul Pisanos, and NSW Police minister, Yasmine Catley, recently, to talk about ongoing youth crime problems across the state and the installation of Operation Soteria.

More than 40 members participated, with CMA chairman, Rick Firman, saying the meeting was “most worthwhile”.

“The Board and Members of CMA who were in attendance appreciated the frankness of both the minister and deputy commissioner,” Mr Firman said.

“We appreciate the initiative of Operation Soteria, launched late last month to address an escalation of violence in offenders aged 11 to 16 years of age, across western and northern parts of the state.”

The new Operation Soteria unit of up to 60 dedicated police will target regional hotspots including Moree, Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Taree, and Newcastle over the next three months.

“The CMA board believes this is a positive step forward for our member communities who have been experiencing very concerning crime behaviour,” Mr Firman said.

“The board is aware these problems are not consistent right cross our 89-member footprint in New South Wales, so the decisive, targeted action by our Police Force seems practical.

“For some rural and regional local government areas, crime is not the concern that it is in others,” he said.

NSW Police minister, Yasmine Catley, along with NSW Police deputy commissioner, Paul Pisanos, recently “zoomed” with Country Mayors Association of NSW to discuss youth crime across the state.

“However, we need to continue standing up those who are going through a tough time, which is completely unacceptable.

“Country Mayors Association should not see crime rate increases far higher than their Sydney counterparts and that has been the case in some areas.

“We are heartened the police minister and deputy commissioner are connecting directly with country Mayors,” Mr Firman said.

Through communication and collaboration, Mr Firman said, NSW Police and the CMA will endeavour to make communities safer.

There is no single solution but many, and we want to be a part of those solutions, where appropriate,” he said

The CMA will host Ms Catley and Mr Pisanos at a crime, law and order-themed meeting on August 8 at NSW Parliament House.

“While areas impacted by youth crime will be monitoring Operation Soteria, our August meeting will be well-timed to reflect on the operation, its taskforce’s actions and outcomes,” Mr Firman said.