Police from New England Local Area Command (LAC) will next week host information sessions to discuss ways police and Aboriginal people can work together to create stronger, safer communities.

The information sessions will take place at various locations within the command, in the state’s north-west, between Monday (25 July 2016) and Thursday (28 July 2016) next week.

The sessions are being conducted as part of the NSW Police Aboriginal Strategic Direction (2012 – 2017), which is a blueprint for how LACs engage and interact with Aboriginal communities.

This policy aims to build strong relationships between police and Aboriginal people, and deliver meaningful outcomes for their local communities.

It has four key priority areas: to ensure community safety; improve communication and understanding between police and Aboriginal people; reduced involvement and improved safety of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system; and Aboriginal youth offending.

“Over the next few months, we are hosting information sessions at more than 40 commands across NSW to enhance community knowledge about the Aboriginal Strategic Direction,” NSW Police Force Corporate Spokesperson on Aboriginal Issues, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, said.

“It’s not the first time we have reached out to Aboriginal communities about the policy; we held a similar round of community-engagement activities in 2012 and 2013.

“However, we are taking this opportunity to revisit Aboriginal communities across the state – including within New England LAC – to reinforce the powerful ways in which police and Aboriginal people can work together to build stronger, safer communities,” he said.

“As the Aboriginal Strategic Direction is up for review next year, we will also be seeking input on how we can forge even more productive partnerships between police and Aboriginal people in the future,” Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.

Representatives from the NSW Police Aboriginal Co-ordination Team will run the information sessions, which are taking place within New England LAC at the following locations and subsequent times:

Monday 25 July

12.30pm: Armidale Kent House (141 Faulkner Street, Armidale)

Tuesday 26 July

11am: Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council (187 Falconer Street, South Guyra)

2pm: Glen Innes Aboriginal Land Council (181 Lang Street, Glen Innes)

Wednesday 27 July

8.30am: Linking Together Centre (16 Waratah Avenue, Inverell)

11am: Best Access Centre (4 Amethyst Street, Tingha)

Thursday 28 July

10am: Tenterfield Shire Council (247 Rouse Street, Tenterfield)