FACEBOOK is fast emerging as a crime-fighting tool for Chifley police, who are using the social media platform to help catch crooks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the past week, police have had overwhelming results in using the Chifley Local Area Command Facebook page to ask for the community’s help in identifying suspected offenders.
Police thanked the public for its help on Monday, and indicated they would be using the site later this week for similar purposes.
Chifley LAC crime prevention officer Senior Constable Sue Rose said the command’s Facebook page was an excellent way for the police and the community to communicate.
“It’s basically an electronic version of the old Neighbourhood Watch,” she said.
“It’s updated regularly, and with almost 6000 likes it’s a very effective way for us to disseminate information.”
Sen Const Rose said the Chifley Facebook site had been running for three years, and police had received plenty of positive feedback about it.
“We’ve had alleged suspects identified by circulating images on Face-book, so it definitely works,” she said.
“We also use it as a means to inform people when something is happening – for example, if there is a crash and the highway is blocked.
“But we also use it to warn the community.
“When those English gypsies were in town offering to do roof repairs or cleaning jobs and were taking money up front and then doing a shoddy job, we were able to warn people what was happening.”
She also said information disseminated via the site was a great way to keep the community informed about what’s happening where they live – such as break-ins.
“People always think it will happen to someone else, but you are someone else,” she said.
“If people know it’s happening they become less complacent. It’s a great tool for information. We’ve had great success with it.”
Sen Const Rose said police Facebook sites across the state had achieved similar success.
“It’s the age were living in – everything is computer orientated.
“For us, this is a great way to interact with the community.”
The Chifley page is under Chifley LAC – NSW Police Force.