Following recent concerns about police presence in the shire, council met with Mr Piccoli about three weeks ago to discuss the issue. 

Council has also discussed the matter with Griffith Local Area Command at length. 

A meeting with Mr Piccoli this week was used to update him on where the situation was at. 

Community safety was also high on the priority of talking points following recent concerns about criminal activity in the shire. 

Mayor Paul Maytom attended the meeting with Mr Piccoli.

“We bascially wanted to provide Adrian with an update on where things were at,” he said. 

“He wants to be kept in the loop with what is happening. 

“We’ve been working with the police and, through a new council committee that we’ve set up, will be meeting with them on a quarterly basis. 

“This will include the chairman of the Neighbourhood Watch committee, as well as myself, Jackie Kruger (general manager) and George Weston.

“We’ll be bringing issues to the attention of police, but also finding out what is happening at their end.”

Council has also since been provided information from Griffith LAC about staffing levels in Leeton following on from a petition generated by the Leeton Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

The petition called on the government to have the Leeton station manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

“We’ve been given assurances (by the LAC) that there is always someone on call for the Leeton station,” councillor Maytom said. 

“This means if someone dials Triple Zero and the call is directed to Leeton it will go to the person on call. 

“If it is a major emergency obviously more police will be called on to assist.”

Cr Maytom said council would continue working with police to drive crime numbers down. 

“We want people to know they will be caught if they are engaging in criminal activity,” he said. 

“There is plenty of interest out there about what is going on. We won’t let this sort of behaviour run rampant in our shire.”