Inspector Luke Rankin yesterday responded to allegations that some Kelso residents were living in fear after being targeted by vandals, assuring the community police were deploying resources where and when they were needed.

His comments follow a series of articles in the Western Advocate that have highlighted social problems in Kelso.

Spofforth Place resident Maria Sargent told the Western Advocate last week she had been targeted by vandals who placed soiled nappies in her letterbox, poisoned her plants and spray-painted obscenities on her house.

And yesterday the Advocate reported Culnane Place resident Jody Croft’s claims that a group of juveniles had thrown bricks at her house and car, narrowly missing her four-week-old son who was sleeping inside. 

But Inspector Rankin rejected suggestions residents had been left to fend for themselves, saying police had arrested and charged four juveniles as a result of the alleged incident at Ms Croft’s house.

All four have been charged with affray and violent disorder.

Inspector Rankin said at the time of the alleged incident, police were already in the street as part of an undercover operation which has also resulted in two men being charged in relation to the possession of illegal firearms.

“We are regularly in the street as part of high visibility and undercover operations, and on that particular day detectives were observing a specific house in the street where a search warrant was under way,” he said.

Police arrested two men as a result of that search warrant, including 31-year-old Daniel John Duke, who pleaded guilty to the possession of a shortened firearm in Bathurst Local Court on Monday. Duke was subsequently placed on a Section 9 bond for 18 months.

A second man, John Kearney, remains in custody facing nine charges in relation to possessing illegal firearms.

Inspector Rankin wanted to assure the community that police were doing everything they could to keep the streets safe.

“We have the intelligence, we know where we need to look at and we are acting on that information,” he said.

Inspector Rankin also said police were working closely with people in the area.

“We’ve had great assistance from members of the community,” he said. 

“People who live in the area are dealing with a range of social issues but, on the whole, it has to be acknowledged that no one wants to put up with crime or anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood wherever they live.

“The people who live there don’t tolerate it. They ring us and we respond.

“We are also proactively patrolling the area to deter anti-social behaviour.”

Inspector Rankin said it was a minority group in the area who were doing the wrong thing.

“Everyone wants to work together to maintain a harmonious community and I can assure everyone the police are here and will address any areas of concern as they arise,” he said.