The comments come following last week’s NSW Farmers annual conference in Sydney where members passed motions calling on the NSW government to provide additional funding and staffing for rural police stations, and particularly for the smallest rural police stations.

The senior police source said the issue had been complicated for some time. 

“It does depend on where you are in the state,” he said. 

“It’s quite complex. 

“The obvious answer is ‘more cops’, but even that’s not going to fix it. 

“Each area tends to be different. In areas like (Leeton), Griffith and Wagga you have back up that is close by. 

“For places like Lightning Ridge there might only be three blokes and their back up can be hundreds of kilometres away.

“There is no doubt that rural crime is costing the economy 100s of millions of dollars every year, but there is no blanket solution to fix it.”

The Leeton police station is currently at the “authorised strength” of 12 staff members. 

At present there is one vacancy, which will be filled in the coming months. 

Leeton Neighbourhood Watch chairman Mark Norvall said more resources were always needed, but agreed it was a tough issue. 

“Without a doubt rural areas need more police, particularly when there’s a major incident,” he said. 

“I think here in Leeton we’re doing okay at the moment in terms of staff numbers available to respond to incidents, but when it comes to preventing crime perhaps not so much. 

“I know there is budgetary restraints when it comes to this, as well as other pressing concerns in bigger areas.

“It is good that (NSW Farmers) have put the issue out there again.”

Earlier this year the Leeton Chamber of Commerce and Industry started a petition that called for the town’s police station to be staffed 24-hours a day following a spate of break and enters. 

It was then delivered to Member for Murray Adrian Piccoli. As a result of the break and enters, as well as other concerns, Leeton’s Neighbourhood Watch group was formed. 

“We’re going along really strong now,” Mr Norvall said. The group is in the process of organising a second self defence class for residents.