Mayor, police to join forces to tackle rural crime

Goondiwindi was in the midst of a spike in property crime but now that it has cooled off the local council and police are looking at a long-term plan to keep the community safe.

Police have welcomed moves by the council to tackle crime in Goondiwindi.

POLICE Sergeant Richard McIntosh has welcomed moves by the Goondiwindi Regional Council to take a broader look at the social factors that led to a spike in crime in his command area.

It comes after Mayor Lawrence Springborg and the council revisited a report from 20 years ago that looked at issues about housing, education and employment in an effort to bring down the crime rate.

“It’s about more than just police doing patrols,” Sgt McIntosh said.

The crime rate spiked after Christmas last year, with 124 offences recorded in April, up from 63 in January.

Sgt McIntosh said the spike occurred after what was a very quiet year in town during the height of the Covid pandemic and border closures.

“We have not had any major crimes for about four weeks,” he said.

“The crime rate is cyclic, and it depends on who is visiting town.”

As officers in a border town, Goondiwindi Police face some challenges in tracking offenders who cross into NSW.

Mr Springborg has called on the Queensland Government to establish a Border Commissioner to improve cross-border relationships.

It would be like commissioner roles in NSW and Victoria.

“The police work hard to find and apprehend any local criminals and are extremely successful in doing so in the vast majority of cases,” he said.

“Our local police in particular are a credit to our region and have the full support of the council in their work.

“This is about what happens after the arrest and breaking the cycle – especially for young offenders – to prevent the need for further arrests.

“We require a clear deterrence that stops the escalation from vandalism and petty crime to serious property and car thefts, or the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.”

Originally published as Mayor, police to join forces to tackle rural crime