Four new police officers will join the Orana Mid-Western Police District on Monday following their swearing in at the NSW Police Academy on Friday.
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Two of the 261 new police officers will be stationed in Dubbo and two will be based in Mudgee.
"We know the issues that confront police in the bush are different to the issues faced in the city, and I think getting more police in rural NSW will help when it comes to dealing with those problems," State member-elect for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said.
"I think our police do a terrific job, but like with anything, there is always more that can be done and getting more feet on the beat can only be a good thing.
"The officers joining us will get a terrific initiation in regional policing under the guidance of Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, Superintendent Peter McKenna and a team with a broad cross-section of skills."
Mr Saunders, who campaigned promising more cops in the country, said the NSW government will employ 1500 new police officers by the end of 2023.
"I'm confident regional areas will get their fair share of those numbers," he said.
"In an ideal world there would be no crime, but the reality is Dubbo and other areas across my electorate do have crime issues and we need to do whatever we can to address those problems."
The new probationary constables joining the NSW police rank will complete 12 months on-the-job training and study an associate degree in policing practice before being confirmed to the rank of constable.
Employing more police can lead to a reduction in crime, but not necessarily through the apprehension of more offenders, a NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) study recently found.
The study, which looked at police staffing changes between 2002 and 2003, found a one per cent increase in the size of the police force generated a small reduction in theft.
No convincing reductions in other crimes were observed.
The study also found no change in arrest rates following the increase in police numbers, but it did note extra police can deter offenders from committing crime.
Police Minister David Elliott praised our police.
"Our state has some of the lowest crime rates in a generation and that is testament to the people like the [new] officers...who have completed world class training," he said.
About the new cops
Their countries of origin include New Zealand, China, Serbia, Wales, India, Ecuador, South Africa, USA, Germany, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Canada.
Of the probationary constables, 234 were born in Australia and 27 were born overseas.
The recruits age statistics include:
- 34 are aged 19-20
- 129 are aged 21-25
- 62 are aged 26-30
- 15 are aged 31-35
- 12 are aged 36-40
- Nine aged over 40
