Nationals Member for Oxley Michael Kemp has launched a community petition calling on the NSW Government to expand its PolAir-Remote Drone program to the Mid North Coast.
The call follows the results of a NSW Police drone trial in Moree, where the technology has been credited with helping reduce crime by around 50%, assisted police with more than 100 arrests, the recovery of 70 stolen vehicles, and the location of six missing people.
According to 2025 BOCSAR crime statistics, Kempsey Shire ranked second in NSW for motor vehicle theft and third for break and enter dwelling offences, demonstrating the ongoing impact of crime on local residents.
“People want to feel safe in their homes and on their streets, and our police need every tool available to them to keep our community safe,” Mr Kemp said.
“This technology can give police an extra set of eyes in the sky when they need it most, and the results in Moree speak for themselves.”
“Communities across the Mid North Coast are spread across a large area. A remotely operated drone could give police the ability to quickly cover difficult terrain, track offenders and provide critical information to officers on the ground.”
“Every time we can reduce the need for a dangerous pursuit, or give police more information before they enter a property, we are making policing safer for everyone.”
Mr Kemp said the community petition would demonstrate the strength of local support for the initiative and called on the NSW Government to make the Mid North Coast one of the next locations considered for the program.
“We cannot simply accept these crime rates as the status quo. We need to be proactive, we need to give our police the tools they need, and we need to do everything we can to make our communities safer.”
Link to the online petition – Sign the petition here
