Incensed at the perceived lack of action by state agencies including police, DOCS and Juvenile Justice, residents - including victims of crime - are being urged to attend the meeting next Friday.

The town’s Rotary Club, backed by Coonamble Shire Council, is organising the meeting to try to resolve the problems and head off any hint of vigilante behaviour by fed-up residents.

Police in the area have called for a “measured response’’ and deny there is talk of vigilante action in the town.

Reports of homeowners being spat on by children who knock at their doors asking for money, as well as increased thefts, break-ins and vandalism fuelled calls for the showdown.

“We don’t want a talkfest where people whinge and ‘bash the coppers’,’’ Coonamble shire’s general manager Rick Warren said. “But we have a crime issue in town and the stats don’t bear it out because people are simply not reporting it.’’

Council’s mayor, Tim Horan, said council has been continually inundated with complaints regarding law and order issues and, with the underlying unrest within the community, believes it is time these issues were addressed throughout the shire.

“Victims of crime are encouraged to attend this meeting and make their experiences known in order that the relevant authorities be made aware of the angst within the community.’’

Cr Horan said the community is fed up with lack of action.

“There should be adequate resources available to address anti-social issues and it is hoped the new state government will quickly honour its commitment to rural NSW.’’

The council’s general manager, Rick Warren, said there was anecdotal evidence that crime was increasing in the town of 2800, which has an Indigenous population of about 40 per cent.

“People aren’t reporting it any more because they fear retribution or don’t think anything will be done.’’

Mr Warren suggested the lack of 24-hour policing the town was one the issues which needed to be addressed. He said it was common for children of 10, 11 or 12 to be walking the street at 3am.

“Two people were assaulted over the weekend and we have a big unseen problem here with domestic violence.’’

Mr Warren added that “a lot of elderly people will not go out after dark’’.

While aware he was painting a bleak picture of his own town, Mr Warren said it was important for the issues to be addressed.

“The community is always told to take ownership of its problems so some of the people who are making a noise are going to have to stand up.

He said police deal with a lot of juvenile crime and “all they can do is caution them a lot of the time’’.

“It needs a whole new approach. We need the state agencies to start doing their jobs, like DOCs, Juvenile Justice, and for them to have a look what’s happening out here and see what services are needed,’’ he said.

He said council is backing the meeting to ensure a properly structured gathering with an outcome that can be followed through. Inspector Chris Taylor, from the Castlereagh Local Area Command, while not wanting to enter into a “slanging match’’ with councillors or community members, rejected many of the claims. He stressed that police were not aware of any vigilante activity.

“This is extremely inflammatory,’’ Inspector Taylor said.

Neither was he aware of children spitting on homeowners who refused to give them money.

He said the young children walking the streets at night was a problem not unique to Coonamble and that sometimes police took them home, counselled them or called DOCS.

“We have a good relationship with council and we prefer a measured response to this,’’ Inspector Taylor said.

He said that while the police station was not a 24-hour station, it had 9 officers which were supported by the crime management unit based in Walgett.

POLICE PUT THEIR RECORD ON THE LINE

Castlereagh Local Area Command, based in Walgett, responded to Coonamble residents’ concerns about crime in their town and police responses to it by issuing the following lengthy summary of recent arrests and charges in the police area.

Coonamble:

n Castlereagh LAC detectives arrested and charged a 17-year-old Coonamble juvenile with affray and malicious wounding following an assault in Maule Street about 2am on Friday March 11.

The youth is alleged to have become involved in a fight with a 25-year-old male victim following a party. He armed himself with a tree branch which he used in the assault, resulting in the victim sustaining a puncture wound to the chest. The youth then threw a number of beer bottles at the face of the victim who subsequently required treatment at Coonamble Hospital for his injuries. Coonamble police and detectives attended the scene and seized a number of exhibits. The young offender was arrested, charged and granted conditional bail to appear at Coonamble Children’s Court on April 18.

n Coonamble police and Castlereagh LAC detectives executed a search warrant on a Maule Street residence on March 23 in relation to the investigation into break and enter offences in Coonamble. During the search, police located a quantity of DVDs and electrical items allegedly stolen from a nearby residence as well as a small quantity of cannabis leaf. Investigations are continuing in relation to this matter.

n At 2.25pm on March 24, Coonamble police arrested and charged a 12-year-old Coonamble juvenile with aggravated break, enter and steal on a Coonamble hotel that occurred the previous night. The young offender was identified via CCTV footage.

He was refused bail by police, however has since been granted conditional bail to appear before Coonamble Children’s Court on May 16. Inquiries are continuing in relation to this investigation with further young persons expected to be charged.

n On March 28 Coonamble police stopped a motor vehicle on the Quambone Road. Police searched the vehicle and located a small quantity of cannabis and a quantity of prescribed medication. As a result a 36-year-old Quambone female has been charged with supply prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug and a 38-year-old Quambone male has been charged with possess prohibited drug.

n On March 29, Coonamble police executed a search warrant at a Floyd Street address in relation to the investigation into a break and enter offence that occurred in Simpson Avenue earlier that day. During the search jewellery, a laptop computer, digital camera and an iPod was located which was linked to the earlier break and enter offence. Inquiries are continuing in relation to this investigation.

Lightning Ridge:

n On March 3, Castlereagh LAC detectives executed a search warrant on a residence at Lightning Ridge following an investigation by Queensland Police attached to Strike Force Argos. Queensland investigators were posing as a 13-year-old child and were engaged in on-line communications with a 30-year-old male. As a result of the search warrant police seized computer equipment and arrested and charged a male with using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years. He will face Lightning Ridge Local Court in April.

Gulargambone:

n On March 23, Castlereagh Target Action Group and detectives executed a search warrant on a residence at Gulargambone. During the search police located 79 cannabis plants, most ranging between 2-3m in height with some about 4m. Also located was a quantity of cannabis seeds and drug related equipment as well as about 3.6kg of cannabis leaf. This was a significant drug find with the potential street value of the cannabis about $200,000. As a result of the search warrant a 47-year-old Gulargambone man will face Coonamble Local Court on May 17 charged with supply cannabis, possess cannabis and cultivate cannabis.

n On March 28, Gulargambone police arrested and charged a 10-year-old and two 13-year-old juveniles with aggravated break and enter with intent following an incident that occurred in Breelong Street only hours earlier when the juveniles entered the premises through a window and caused considerable damage to the interior.

All three will now face Coonamble Children’s Court.