Light on crime

THE Lake Illawarra Local Area Command played host to Minister for Police and the Illawarra David Campbell last week when he visited the command in order to meet local police and discuss crime prevention strategies.

Mr Campbell said Lake Illawarra police were doing an outstanding job driving down crime and working with the local community.

Member for Shellharbour Lylea McMahon joined him for the meeting with officers.

"The authorised strength of the Lake Illawarra Local Area Command has increased by more than 25 per cent under Labor to 228 officers," Mr Campbell said.

"Lake Illawarra LAC has an actual strength of 260 police " a recognition of the good work being done on the beat.

"The local area command has been allocated 27 new recruits so far this year, with 20 from the January graduation and seven from the most recent class last week."

Mr Campbell said the state government was committed to building a new police station for the growing Lake Illawarra region to cater for hard-working local families, as well as providing a mobile police station.

"The Iemma Government will give the police the resources and powers they need to keep fighting crime," Mr Campbell said.

"Lake Illawarra Police have produced some excellent crime results, with motor vehicle theft at a 17 year low."

Ms McMahon said Lake Illawarra Police statistics showed crime heading in the right direction with Break and Enter dwelling down by 22.4%, Motor Vehicle Theft down by 23.9%, Steal From Retail Store down by 10.2% and Steal from Dwelling down by 25.3%.

"Police are working with the community through the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Plan and are justifiably proud of their successes in reducing crime," she said.

"The support and cooperation Police receive from the community and local councils is a major factor in driving down crime."

Mr Campbell said the police had employed a number of highly successful strategies to target criminal activities.

"Police have worked with at-risk young people to reward good behaviour, conducted community awareness programs and targeted hot spots through high visibility policing," Mr Campbell said.

"This has lead to an extra 8000 hours of high visibility policing across the Command in the past 12 months.

"They have also adopted a bail compliance strategy involving regular visits to enforce bail conditions handed down by the courts to ensure compliance to curfews."