Police Minister and Member for Dubbo Troy Grant has released a statement rejecting claims police numbers will be cut at the Mudgee Local Area Command.

There are reports the Mudgee Police Station would be affected by the amalgamation of at least four local police commands as part of a policing overhaul.

 “The intention of re-engineering is to ensure the NSW Police Force is best placed to protect the community into the future,” Mr Grant explained.

 “It is in no way about cutting officer numbers. I’ve made it very clear there will be no reduction in frontline policing.

“The process of re-engineering is designed to place more frontline officers where we need them the most. It’s about giving the people of NSW a police force that is flexible, nimble and prepared to face the changing and evolving crime landscape in NSW. 

 “The last major organisational changes to the force occurred two decades ago, and so it is timely the NSW Government is working with the NSW Police now to set itself up to protect the people of this State for generations to come.

 “This process is in its infancy, and communities across the State, including in the Dubbo electorate, and local police, will be consulted on any potential changes as the re-engineering continues.

The ‘re-engineering’ was initiated with the appointment of  the new Deputy Commissioner for Regional NSW Gary Worboys in May this year.

Deputy Commissioner Worboys, who is now based in Dubbo, said at the time that “the enforcement squad model will work out of hubs”.

“The real challenge in policing is about not continually putting police in the back end of responding to crime, but you've got to tackle prevention and disruption,” he said.

“The enforcement squads are really around prevention and disruption which then will hopefully decrease the workload for the uniformed police and the other police.

“I think that is the important thing that if you keep putting resources into crime then you never win the battle and the regional enforcement squads are key, they're central to preventing and disrupting crime.”

The Mudgee Guardian has been contacted by a number of concerned residents about the restructure with talk of staffing cuts and the possibility of the Mudgee station reduced from 24 hours to 12 hours.

There are reports three key roles, including the commander and administrations officer, will be based out of Dubbo.

Mr Grant explained “it is entirely false to suggest that police services will be diminished in any way as a result of the re-engineering.”

The Mudgee Guardian has contacted the NSW Police Association for comment.

PREVIOUS: There are reports the Mudgee Police Station will be affected by the amalgamation of at least four local police commands.

It’s believed the commands will be amalgamated into two local area commands, as part of a government policing overhaul.

The Mudgee Police station could merge with Dubbo as part of the restructure.

There are unconfirmed reports the local station will be cut from 24 hours to 12 hours.

More to come...