Police from the Barwon Local Area Command have been given a long-awaited boost to help combat crime in Moree with the addition of two brand new trail bikes.
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The Yamaha Enduro motorcycles arrived at Moree Police Station recently thanks to a $20,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Moree on Gwydir and Moree Plains Shire Council.
Council contributed a $5,000 grant to the funding, while Rotary spent the past two years fundraising for the remainder of the funds.
“It was an idea that came about two or three years ago when we were speaking to police about the need and saw the opportunity to be able to help provide them with a donation to enable them to purchase the bikes,” Moree on Gwydir Rotary treasurer Peter Gall said.
“I think it will help reduce the potential for crime in Moree which is something that will help the whole community.”
It gives us an ability to go to areas that regular police vehicles cannot get to.
- Barwon LAC Superintendent Paul McDonald
Barwon Local Area Commander, Superintendent Paul McDonald said the trail bikes will be used for a variety of policing purposes such as crime prevention, targeting unregistered and uninsured trail bikes, search and rescue operations, searching drug plantations, rural crime operations, traffic operations, community engagement and general patrols.
“I think it’s a fantastic initiative on behalf of Rotary and council to suppot police in our activities here,” he said.
“It’s been proven through community engagement how good the use of trail bikes are. It gives us an ability to go to areas that regular police vehicles cannot get to.
“On behalf of NSW Police and Barwon LAC, I’d like to thank both organisations for the financial assistance they’ve given us to esnure the safety of the community.”
Moree Plains Shire councillor Kerry Cassells was on hand to present the bikes this week and said council is very interested in crime prevention in the community and is happy to offer financial assistance to help police.
“Having these motorbikes will increase the community awareness of what’s going on and these bikes will be able to go where people can’t go,” she said.
The bikes were purchased from Thomas Lee Motorcycles Moree.
A number of police officers are currently undergoing training and once completed, the bikes will be deployed across the Barwon LAC.
