The new position – which will give the regions representation at the highest level – has particular significance for Dubbo and Western NSW.

Crime rates in the region stay stubbornly higher than the NSW average. In Dubbo they are normally twice the state average. In Wellington they are three times the state rate.

That is not to say police in our local commands – and the same would go for other regions – are not doing an impressive job in fighting crime in often difficult circumstances.

Our local police do their jobs with dedication and commitment despite the tyranny of distance, many underlying social problems causing crime spikes, lack of resources, difficulty recruiting police officers to rural and regional posts, etc. (and there are many other issues in that etc).

Ice-related crime has risen. The Orana region has many of the worst rates for domestic violence in NSW.

While murders and some other serious crimes have low incidence rates, massive amounts of police time and resources are consumed on issues like theft from cars and home and business break-ins.

Members of the community can and must contribute to reducing those crimes by following police advice and taking responsibility for properly securing premises and safe-guarding their possessions.

That would free up more police resources to pursue the dealers who sell our young drugs like ice and help create misery, and the thugs who brutally batter spouses, partners and children.

Crimes like stock theft and the theft of firearms from farms have been on the increase. Police have been stepping up their campaigns against the villains responsible and have achieved good outcomes.

Senior officers leading local area commands and their regional command bosses, no doubt have been keeping regional policing issues, wants and needs high on the police headquarter’s radar.

Now, the regions will have a seat at the power table at an equal rank with other segments of the police force.

Overdue perhaps but a most welcome advance.