The NSW Government is investing more than $583M over four years to deliver 1500 more police in NSW – the biggest single boost to the Police Force in over 30 years.
As part of this huge new boost to the NSW Police Force, Region Enforcement Squads and Strike Force Raptor units will receive 91 extra police to help combat drugs and gun crime, to disrupt serious, organised gangs and tackle other key crime areas.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government is committed to protecting the community from drugs and guns, and giving our men and women in blue the necessary resources to fight this scourge on our society.
“The increase in specialist officers to Strike Force Raptor and Region Enforcement Squads will help to smash organised crime gangs and keep NSW communities safe,” Ms Berejiklian
said
“Drugs and guns have absolutely no place in our community and our record investments in our Police Force will further reduce the crime rate in NSW.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals careful economic management is allowing us to make record investments in our frontline services and today’s announcement is another great example of the work we are doing.”
Minister for Police Troy Grant said the flow-on effect from organised crime groups, such as outlaw bikie gangs, to communities, individuals and families is catastrophic.
“Small-scale drug sales are borne out of illegal crime groups importing or selling large quantities of drugs,” said Mr Grant.
“We need to hit the drug, gun and crime syndicates where it hurts and these specialist squads do exactly that. By boosting their numbers, Raptor and RES units will have greater capacity to tailor their approach to crime groups in their region.”