As Rural Crime Week 2018 kicks-off across the state so to do a range of security assessment workshops targeted at the region’s landholders.

Workshops will be held in Cobar this Wednesday with future ones in Coonabarabran on September 25, and Condobolin and Walgett on September 27.

NSW Police state rural crime co-ordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said rural crime was more than just stock and property theft, and also included illegal hunting, trespassing, firearm theft and illegal firearms, mining offences and illegal fossicking as well as threats to bio security.

He said rural crime was often under-reported, but he hoped the workshops would change this.

“The workshop provides an opportunity for police to talk with farmers and primary producers about how to prevent these types of crimes; the importance of reporting crime to police and it is a great opportunity to talk about issues impacting people on the land,” Detective Inspector Whiteside said.

The workshops will be applicable for people in the following industries: vineyards, orchardists, cropping, aquacultural, agriculture, meat (sheep/cattle/goats) and wool production.

Some of the topics that will be discussed include: The structure of the Rural Crime Prevention Team; what is rural crime; crime scene evidence; firearms legislation changes; surveillance cameras and drones; animal cruelty; malicious damage; trespass and illegal hunting and how to report rural crime.

Detective Inspector Whiteside said rural crime investigators and police based in small communities were always talking with their communities about rural crime.

“This new workshop series is a further opportunity to get together and talk about crime, how to prevent it and it’s also a good opportunity to talk with farmers and primary producers about crime issues as well as a further opportunity to get together and talk with the Rural Crime Prevention Team and their local police over a meal.”

Detective Inspector Whiteside has encouraged all landholders to come along to the workshops.

“It’s hard enough working on the land at the best of times without also having to deal with the constant threat of trespassers, illegal hunting, livestock theft, equipment and property theft and other preventable crimes,” he said.

“Coming along to the workshops is a great opportunity to hear about new crime prevention approaches, new ways to report crime and suspicious activity.”

All workshops will commence at 6pm and finish at 8pm. Dinner is included.

RSVPs are required for catering purposes at: http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/NSWFA/Content/IndustryPolicy/Resource/Tackling_Rural_Crime.aspx.