Mr Grant, who is the minister for police and justice, member for Dubbo and deputy premier, sent a letter out reassuring residents he is aware of the spike in rural crime and stock theft in the Western Region.

The minister for police and justice said he commissioned former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Bradshaw to lead a review on rural crime and the ways to deal with stock theft. 

“Mr Bradshaw has now completed and submitted his report. As the police and justice minister I will now consider the recommendations that have been made in this report and provide advice to the NSW Government on a way forward,” Mr Grant said. 

Mr Grant decided to write to the Trangie community because he had received increased contact from residents about the rise in rural crime. 

“I have been frustrated with the increase in crime and the impact that this has had on farmers and rural landholders,” Mr Grant said. 

“ [I] can assure you that the NSW Government will work through all the recommendations made by Mr Bradshaw and report back to the community in due course about the way we intend to approach the issue.” 

Throughout the review, Mr Bradshaw visited Nyngan to hear about landholders’ experiences. It was there Trangie farmer Wayne Barbook spoke about the devastation and abuse he’s had to deal with recently. 

“I’m worried of a night time. One [dog] went to take me out and then the owner abused me,” he said. 

“I spent an hour and a half on the phone to police and I was diverted to Dubbo. There’s two police houses in Trangie and one police station and still nothing.” 

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