A MEETING between police and the community in Bomaderry on Friday left people who attended feeling they had got their message across.
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Shoalhaven police were at Bomaderry Railway Station on Friday between 9.30 and 11am to speak to the community about crime and community safety in the Bomaderry area.
Members of the public were invited to meet with senior police commander Superintendent Joe Cassar and customer service duty officer Inspector Steve Johnson and a number of other officers.
Bomaderry resident Bert Waldmann said he was glad to have the chance to talk with police in a casual setting.
“I like this idea. It’s more personable than just phoning them to complain about something,” he said.
“I am also friends with police on Facebook and I think all this community consultation is a positive move.
“One thing I learned today was the police want to know what is happening. I ring up sometimes and feel like I’m just a whinger. But the feedback from them today is that they want people to ring them about things.
“They use that information to help in their argument for more police,” he said.
Traffic issues were raised by a number of people who attended the meeting.
Mr Waldmann spoke to police about youths riding unregistered dirt bikes around residential streets.
Another Bomaderry resident, who did not want to be named, discussed the issues of hoons racing along the streets and doing burnouts at night.
“Lyndhurst Drive and Cambewarra Road is where I have an issue,” she said.
“I have heard the police out at night from time to time dealing with it.
“Having this informal access to the police is a good way to discuss a range of concerns with them,” she said.
Shoalhaven Local Area Commander Superintendent Joe Cassar said the business owners in Bomaderry made it clear they wanted CCTV cameras.
“With these community engagements we look at areas where a specific type of crime is starting to increase and target that area.
“For example if there is an increase in cars being broken into in an area we can let people know and remind them to lock their cars.”