NSW Police’s Aviation Command (POL AIR) have started the year on the ground in Moree laying the foundations for a new Australian-first trial being rolled out in Moree.
On Thursday, January 8, two drones were installed at the Moree police station ready to begin testing ahead of the rollout of both proactive and responsive surveillance of the Moree
township.
The drones will be controlled remotely by Aviation Command (POL AIR) at Bankstown and will be able to arrive at locations in Moree within a fraction of the time of local police.
It is expected that the new equipment and functionality will complement the work of officers on the ground who will still be responding to calls and attending sites – the drone capability is an additional tool in ensuring community safety and effective policing.
NSW Aviation Command and Moree Plains Shire Council facilitated a meeting with local aviation stakeholders regarding how the service will operate in the airspace, and also met with additional community stakeholders to share information and respond to questions.
Moree Plains mayor Susannah Pearse said while Moree is a wonderful place, it continued to have a break and enter rate nine times the NSW average.
“Late last year we explained to NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon that we are not comfortable with that statistic,” Cr Pearse said.
“Turning around this long term trend will take a range of initiatives and this is just one. But it is one that we strongly welcome.
“We thank the NSW Police wholeheartedly for their continued care and concern for our community and our people.
“Whilst there may be some concerns about this increased surveillance, we need to balance this with the very real impact violent crime has on its victims.
“If this trial stops even one violent break and enter or makes offenders think twice, then that’s a win.”
Council understands that community members will have questions and expects more information on the trial will be forthcoming from NSW Police as testing and rollout progresses in the coming months.
“This is a trial and its effectiveness will be reviewed. But it is a trial that our council strongly welcomes and we are grateful that our community has been selected to work in partnership with NSW Police and be on
the cutting edge of policing innovation.”
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