The Central Hunter police command will be dissolved and split into new police districts at Hunter Valley and Port Stephens.
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Fairfax Media revealed the proposed change in October, but NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and Deputy Commissioner Regional Field Operations Gary Worboys confirmed the new model on Thursday as a “re-engineering” process.
Southern sectors of the Central Hunter (expected to include Cessnock) will move into the Hunter Valley District. Hunter Valley LAC currently has headquarters based in Muswellbrook.
Northern sectors (expected to include Maitland) will be added to Port Stephens, which will be renamed Port Stephens/Hunter Police District.
Districts will have a Superintendent and will incorporate an ‘Officer-in-Charge’ model for each of its police stations.
The number of Superintendents and Inspectors will decrease across the three current commands, but Commissioner Fuller said the changes would put more police back on the frontline.
“The new police district model has been designed to significantly improve our capability to service regional NSW,” he said.
“Policing in regional and rural communities differs greatly from the city and our approach recognises the unique needs and challenges of both models.”
Deputy Commissioner Worboys said regional communities wanted to know who their local police were and who was in charge of their police station.
“We will see a return to the officer in charge model throughout regional police stations overseen by a Commander at the District office,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
“This model allows for a more dynamic and flexible approach to investigations, proactive operations and focusing on important community issues like domestic and family violence and mid-level drug supply.
Districts will be progressively switched on over the coming months with a completion date of early next year.
Deputy Commissioner Worboys will detail local arrangements in each of the new police districts as they commence under the new structure.